On a chilly night in March 1982, 19-year-old Maura Elizabeth “Betsy” Gottlieb finished her shift at an answering service on Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey, and made a decision that would cost her her life. With her car not working, she told a coworker she planned to hitchhike the roughly eight miles home to Lawrence Township. It was the last time anyone would see her alive.
Betsy never made it home. Eight days later, on March 14, 1982, her fully clothed body was discovered floating in the Delaware & Raritan Canal near the Harrison Street bridge by a couple walking along the towpath. The medical examiner determined she had been strangled to death. Her murder remains unsolved more than 43 years later, one of New Jersey’s most haunting cold cases from the early 1980s.
A Bright Young Woman with a Creative Spirit
Betsy Gottlieb was a vibrant 19-year-old who had graduated from Solebury School in Pennsylvania in 1980. She had briefly attended several colleges, including Livingston College and Glassboro State College, before stepping away from her studies. At the time of her death, she was living in Lawrence Township with her father, a professor at Rutgers University, and her older brother. Her mother had passed away years earlier.
Those who knew Betsy described her as creative and artistic. She enjoyed crafting and had a warm, engaging personality. Like many young people in that era, she relied on hitchhiking as a common — though increasingly risky — way to get around when transportation fell through.
The Night She Disappeared
Betsy clocked out of work around 11:00 p.m. on March 6, 1982. She mentioned her hitchhiking plans to a coworker and even left a handwritten note requesting a ride home. When she failed to return that night, her family initially assumed she might have stayed with friends. But as hours turned into days with no contact, worry set in. She was officially reported missing, triggering an extensive search.
On March 14, pedestrians made the grim discovery in the canal. Betsy’s body showed no signs of sexual assault, and she was still fully clothed, which led investigators to believe she may have known her killer or encountered someone she trusted enough to accept a ride from.
Key Evidence and a Mysterious Suspect
Weeks after the body was found, on March 29, 1982, authorities recovered additional items linked to Betsy in South Brunswick Township: a black nylon knapsack and a light blue poncho. Inside the bag were her identification, clothing, a thermos, and various personal belongings, including crafting materials.
Police also released a description of a man seen in the area around the time of her disappearance. He was described as a white male in his early 30s, stocky build, about 5’8” tall, wearing glasses, a checkered wool cap, and an overcoat. He was sought for questioning, but was never publicly identified or linked to the crime.
A Case That Has Never Been Closed
Despite appeals for information, a public hotline, and extensive early investigation, no arrests were ever made. The case has been reviewed periodically as forensic technology advanced, including potential DNA testing on preserved evidence, but no breakthrough has come.
In recent years, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has revisited the case, hoping modern techniques or new witnesses might finally bring justice for Betsy. As of 2025–2026, the murder remains unsolved, with authorities continuing to seek any information from the public.
Remembering Betsy
Betsy Gottlieb’s death shocked the quiet communities around Princeton and Lawrence Township. She was a young woman full of potential, taken far too soon in a brutal act of violence. Her family and friends have carried the pain of her unsolved murder for over four decades, hoping that one day the truth will emerge.
Anyone with information about Betsy Gottlieb’s murder is urged to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office or local law enforcement. Even the smallest detail from that night in March 1982 could help finally solve this tragic case.
Justice for Betsy remains elusive, but her memory endures.