Beverly Jarosz. Obsession, Terror and an Unsolved Murder People Refuse to Forget
- KRIS CALVERT
- 18 minutes ago
- 5 min read
The Murder of Beverly Jarosz: A 1964 Nightmare That Still Haunts Garfield Heights
On the cold afternoon of December 28, 1964, Garfield Heights, Ohio, became home to one of the state’s most chilling unsolved murders. Sixteen-year-old Beverly Jarosz, a bright high school junior with dreams of becoming a teacher, was found bound, beaten, and strangled in her own bedroom. Sixty years later, her killer has never been caught – leaving a town, a family, and a generation haunted by unanswered questions.
The Day Beverly’s Light Went Out
That morning began like any other. Beverly spent time with her friend Barbara, exchanging Christmas gifts. Her parents, Thaddeus and Eleanor Jarosz, left the house around 2 p.m., leaving Beverly home alone. When her father returned just after 4:30 p.m., he walked into a scene no parent should ever face.
Beverly was found face down on her bedroom floor. She was naked from the waist down, her clothing torn, her ankles bound with rope, and another length wrapped tightly around her neck. Her room showed signs of a violent struggle – overturned furniture and scattered belongings told the story of her final moments.
The Evidence Left Behind
Despite the brutality of her murder, there was little usable evidence:
No murder weapon: Investigators never found the object used to strangle her.
No forced entry: Her killer either walked in through an unlocked door or was let in by Beverly herself.
Bindings: The rope used to tie Beverly’s ankles and neck indicated her killer had planned the attack and brought supplies.
No usable fingerprints: Prints were lifted from the scene, but none matched any suspect at the time.
Police interviewed dozens of people, including teenage boys who admired Beverly from afar. None of their fingerprints matched, and all provided alibis that were considered solid.
Theories: Who Killed Beverly Jarosz?
1. The Jealous Suitor
Many believe Beverly knew her killer. She was well-liked but had dated boys her age who may have been jealous or felt spurned. The violence, binding, and personal nature of the attack suggest rage, control, and perhaps rejection as a motive.
2. An Opportunistic Stranger
Another theory posits that Beverly was the victim of a prowler, someone who targeted her home after seeing her alone. Yet, this doesn’t fully explain the lack of forced entry or how she was overpowered so quickly.
3. Someone Close to Her
There were rumors that Beverly may have been stalked by someone familiar with her routine. Neighbors reported seeing a suspicious man near her home before the murder, but no leads panned out. Given the planning involved – bringing rope, knowing she’d be alone – it may have been someone who knew her schedule intimately.
The Case Grows Cold
Despite an intensive investigation by Garfield Heights police and later the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, the trail went cold. In the 1960s, forensic technology was limited. There was no DNA testing, no genetic genealogy databases, and no surveillance cameras to trace Beverly’s final hours.
Her parents, Thaddeus and Eleanor, spent the rest of their lives waiting for justice that never came. They died without knowing who took their only daughter from them so brutally.
Why This Case Still Matters
Beverly Jarosz’s murder is not just a cold case from the past; it’s a reminder of the failures and limitations of 1960s investigations. With modern forensic advancements, there is still hope. If any biological material – hair, skin cells, or preserved evidence – remains, DNA testing could identify her killer today.
Her story also highlights the importance of never forgetting victims. Beverly wasn’t just a statistic. She was a daughter, a friend, and a young woman whose life was cut short by someone who has never paid for what they did.
Final Thoughts
The murder of Beverly Jarosz remains one of Ohio’s most haunting unsolved crimes. It’s a case steeped in horror and heartbreak. As podcasters, writers, and true crime professionals, it’s our duty to keep her story alive – because someone out there knows what happened. And until that person speaks, the question remains:
Who killed Beverly Jarosz – and why?
sources used for this podcast:
Articles & Websites
NBC News. (n.d.). Beverly Jarosz 1964 murder: Ohio cold case. Dateline NBC. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/beverly-jarosz-1964-murder-ohio-cold-case-rcna185435
Cleveland.com. (2014, December). Beverly Jarosz murder: 50 years later. Retrieved from https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/12/beverly_jarosz_murder_50_years.html
Reddit. (n.d.). Who murdered Beverly Jarosz on December 28, 1964? Unresolved Mysteries. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/944dn4/who_murdered_beverly_jarosz_on_december_28_1964/
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Images of Beverly Jarosz and related articles. Retrieved from:
IMDb. (n.d.). Beverly Jarosz. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397313/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Vietnam War. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
Britannica. (n.d.). Civil Rights Act, United States, 1964. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Civil-Rights-Act-United-States-1964
African American Registry. (n.d.). Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. awarded Nobel Peace Prize. Retrieved from https://aaregistry.org/story/rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-awarded-nobel-peace-prize/
MS Classic Cars LLC. (n.d.). 1964 Ford Mustang Coupe. Retrieved from https://www.msclassiccarsllc.com/vehicles/107/1964-ford-mustang-coupe
Lelands. (n.d.). 1964 Cleveland Browns NFL championship ring presented to quarterback Frank Ryan. Retrieved from https://lelands.com/bids/1964-cleveland-browns-nfl-championship-ring-presented-to-quarterback-frank-ryan
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Beverly Jarosz Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8949797/beverly-jarosz
Films & Television
American Horror Story. (2012). I am Anne Frank Part 1 (Season 2, Episode 4). FX.
Game of Thrones. (2011). The Kingsroad (Season 1, Episode 2). HBO.
The Crown. (2016). Vergangenheit (Season 2, Episode 6). Netflix.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. (2004). Directed by Adam McKay. DreamWorks Pictures.
Doctor Who. (2007). Human Nature (Season 3, Episode 8). BBC.
Back to the Future. (1985). Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Universal Pictures.
Twister. (1996). Directed by Jan de Bont. Warner Bros.
Clips, Radio & YouTube
Ideastream. (n.d.). WCLV in Cleveland. Retrieved from https://www.ideastream.org/classical
YouTube. (n.d.). Video clips related to Beverly Jarosz. Retrieved from:
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
All information contained in this audio podcast or video presentation is provided for entertainment purposes only. The authors leave any and all conclusions to individual members of the audience. The author offers no statements of fact beyond those available through diligent private research or through information freely available in the public record. To the extent that pending or settled criminal matters or crime or possible crimes, are discussed in this audio podcast or video presentation. All parties or defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. To the extent that any pending or settled civil matters are discussed in this video presentation, all parties or defendants are presumed not liable unless proven liable in a court of law. Copyright for material incorporated and presented under Fair Use is retained by the original author or copyright holder where applicable. Our cases are researched using open source and archive materials, and the subjects are real crimes and people. We strive to produce each episode with respect to the victims, their families and loved ones. At Hitched 2 Homicide we are committed to always discussing how victims lived, and not just how they died. All podcast information is gleaned from sources given. All opinions in the podcast are solely of Hitched 2 Homicide and are for entertainment purposes only.
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