State police seek information in 1970s Salem County cold case
Police say the victim was shot in the head.
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On June 2, 1979, the body of a man was found in a shallow grave off a dirt road in Salem County. Now, nearly 50 years later, police have finally identified the victim.
The man, found in a wooded area near Jericho Road in Quinton Township, has been identified as Robert Dean Irelan. New Jersey State Police say Irelan suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and they believe he was killed sometime during the winter of 1978-1979.
When Irelan was found, he was wearing white painter's pants, black Pro-Ked sneakers and a plaid cotton shirt. He was also dressed in a heavy black-and-white pullover sweater as well as a dark blue, waist-length Lee brand wool jacket with a gold-plated "R" on the right pocket and a gold-plated cross on the flap of the left pocket.
The NJ State Police Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation in March 2023. Detectives enlisted the help of the Investigative Genealogy Center at Ramapo College. Workers at the center, though investigative genetic genealogy, were able to identify Irelan. Police say the victim had lived in Pleasantville and was also known to visit Atlantic City.
The NJSP Cold Case Unit is now asking anyone who may have known Irelan to contact detectives at ColCase@njsp.gov. Police say anonymous tips will also be accepted.
The Ramapo College Investigative Genealogy Center has solved at least two dozen cases since beginning their work.
