Pennsylvania Police Offer $5k Reward for Mary Jean Stevenson 1988 Cold Case
Police are offering a $5k reward for information
The Unsolved Murder of Mary Jean Stevenson: A 1988 Cold Case Still Waiting for Justice
Mary Jean Stevenson — her name, once whispered among investigators and a handful of reporters, deserves to be spoken aloud, remembered, and never forgotten. This is the story of a young woman whose life was cut tragically short in 1988, and of a case that remains unsolved more than 35 years later.
WHO WAS MARY JEAN STEVENSON?
In 1988, 25-year-old Mary Jean Stevenson was living a hardworking, determined life in Pittsburgh. She worked nights cleaning the USX Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. By day, she attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, continuing her education while balancing a late-night job that many would find exhausting. She was trying to make a future for herself — working, studying, living independently.
On the night she disappeared, Mary Jean finished her shift around 2:00 a.m. on May 5, 1988. She left the tower to begin her walk home. Sadly, this was the last time she was seen alive under normal circumstances.
THE LAST SIGHTINGS AND THE NINTH STREET BRIDGE
About 45 minutes after leaving work, Mary Jean was reportedly seen crossing the Ninth Street Bridge in Pittsburgh. A witness saw a man assaulting her, forcing her along the bridge. Her belongings were later found scattered on the bridge, suggesting an intense struggle. The bridge, quiet at that hour, became the last known place where she was seen alive.
After that moment, Mary Jean vanished. Her family reported her missing when she failed to return home or make contact.
DISCOVERY IN MUDDY CREEK TOWNSHIP
Nearly a month passed before there was finally a terrible answer.
On June 4, 1988, Mary Jean’s body was discovered in a remote, abandoned strip-mine area along Stanford Road in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Because her body had been exposed to the elements for weeks, decomposition had advanced significantly. Investigators could not identify her at first — only a wristwatch with her initials remained to provide a clue.
After confirming her identity, a coroner determined that Mary Jean died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head — execution-style. The lack of a casing suggested she was likely killed elsewhere and then transported to the strip mine. She was found wearing only the watch, raising questions about a possible sexual assault, although investigators could not conclusively determine this due to decomposition.
EARLY INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE LEADS
The original investigation looked at multiple individuals — friends, family members, former partners — but no suspect stood out. The lack of physical evidence limited what could be proven.
Authorities also explored a disturbing possible lead: two men had abducted another woman from the same Ninth Street Bridge around the same period. They tortured and videotaped the victim, who later escaped and reported the incident. While the crime shared similarities, investigators could not find evidence linking those men to Mary Jean’s abduction or murder.
As years passed, leads dried up. By the early 2000s, the case was considered cold, though never closed.
A CASE REAWAKENED: THE 2025 REWARD
In 2025, nearly 40 years after Mary Jean’s murder, the Pennsylvania State Police renewed their push for answers. They issued a public appeal and offered a $5,000 reward for information that could help solve the case.
Their updated statement reiterated what they believe happened:
• Mary Jean left work around 2:00 a.m. on May 5, 1988.
• She was seen being assaulted on the Ninth Street Bridge about 45 minutes later.
• Her body was found on June 4 in Muddy Creek Township.
• She died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Investigators also released the original suspect description again, hoping someone might remember:
• White male
• Mid-20s at the time
• Slender build
• About 5’6”
• Light brown hair, longer in the back
• Possibly had a thin mustache
Someone, somewhere, may still hold the missing piece.
WHY THE CASE STILL MATTERS
Mary Jean was more than a case file.
She was a student, a worker, a young woman with dreams and responsibilities. She mattered, and still does.Cold case challenges highlight why cases like this need renewed attention.
With little forensic evidence preserved, decomposition, and a remote body-dump location, investigators had limited options. Time was a major enemy — but advances in forensic science may help today.Public pressure is essential.
Cases like this are solved when people talk, when old memories get stirred, and when someone decides that after decades of silence, it’s finally time to do the right thing.The possibility of closure still exists.
Modern DNA techniques, forensic genealogy, archived evidence re-analysis, and witness memory can still lead to resolution — even after 35 years.
WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SOLVE THE MURDER
Solving the murder of Mary Jean Stevenson may depend on:
• Someone coming forward with information they were too afraid to share before.
• A witness remembering a detail they didn’t think mattered.
• Forensic breakthroughs from preserved evidence.
• Renewed media attention encouraging people to talk.
Cold cases often break not because of new evidence — but because someone finally speaks.
A LIFE THAT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED
Mary Jean’s story is not just about tragedy. It is about persistence, memory, and the belief that justice can still be served. The fact that authorities continue to fight for her after almost four decades speaks to her worth, her dignity, and the belief that every victim deserves answers.
Mary Jean’s case remains open. Her story remains unfinished.
HOW TO SUBMIT TIPS
Anyone with information — no matter how insignificant it may seem — is encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop D (Butler Station). Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the state’s tip line.
Even one detail could finally bring justice for Mary Jean Stevenson.