Justice for Judy: Cold case team takes up Petty murder investigation
From left, investigators Jen Bucholtz and Melissa Sandberg of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team probe the murder of Judith Petty of Parkersburg, who was killed in February 2008. The team was in the area last month speaking to law enforcement and residents and examining where Petty’s body was found. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Judith Petty
Justin Rimmel with the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team looks over debris on the family farm in Waverly where Judith Petty was found in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
From left, Jen Bucholtz and Melissa Sandberg of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team inspect the site where Judith Petty of Parkersburg was found in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
From left, Jen Bucholtz of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team, Joan and Marvin Petty and Melissa Sandberg of the cold case team meet at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office in October. The team is investigating the death of Judith Petty of Parkersburg, who was killed in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
From left, investigators Jen Bucholtz and Melissa Sandberg of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team probe the murder of Judith Petty of Parkersburg, who was killed in February 2008. The team was in the area last month speaking to law enforcement and residents and examining where Petty’s body was found. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Judith Petty
Justin Rimmel with the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team looks over debris on the family farm in Waverly where Judith Petty was found in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
From left, Jen Bucholtz and Melissa Sandberg of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team inspect the site where Judith Petty of Parkersburg was found in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
From left, Jen Bucholtz of the American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team, Joan and Marvin Petty and Melissa Sandberg of the cold case team meet at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office in October. The team is investigating the death of Judith Petty of Parkersburg, who was killed in February 2008. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- An independent group of investigators has taken on a cold case from 14 years ago in Wood County.
The American Military University Cold Case Investigations Team of Charles Town, W.Va., is investigating the murder of Judy Petty of Parkersburg, whose body was found in February 2008 in the burned remains of a building on the family farm in Waverly.
"She probably knew the person," investigator Jennifer Bucholtz said.
Investigators from the cold case team were in the area last month, speaking with family and law enforcement, examining the site where Petty was found and trying to develop new leads by frequenting night spots and asking people cold what they knew about the murder.
"We got some really good insight from them," Bucholtz said.
Petty, 48 at the time of her death, was last seen in the area of the Parkersburg-Wood County Public Library where she was returning books.
Bucholtz and fellow investigator Melissa Sandberg believe Petty got into a vehicle driven by someone she knew. Petty was shy, Sandberg said.
The farm in Waverly is 13 miles away from the library, she said.
"I'm confident this was not a stranger homicide," Sandberg said.
Another theory was an accident occurred and the fire was to cover it up, Bucholtz said.
The body was found several days after the fire by her father, Marvin Petty. She was dead before the fire was started.
The case remains under the Wood County Sheriff where Chief Deputy Mike Deem welcomes any information and tips the cold-case team can find.
"I wish them luck, I really do," Deem said.
Tips with the requisite collaboration will be investigated, he said.
"We'll be more than happy to look into them," Deem said.
Sandberg and Bucholtz met with Deem during their initial visit to the area. He was most gracious and cooperative, they said.
But sometimes witnesses and people with information about a case are reluctant to talk to law enforcement, Bucholtz said
"A lot of people won't want to talk to law enforcement, but they'll talk to us," she said.
That's what Kelly Poiani, Petty's sister, hopes. She has led the crusade for justice for her sister since the murder occurred.
Poiani also welcomes the American Military University's cold case team getting involved in her sister's murder.
"It's time someone really truly works on this case," Poiani said.
The investigations team assisted law enforcement in solving the 18-year-old murder of Rebecca Gould in Arkansas resulting in the killer sentenced on Oct. 18 to 40 years in prison.
The Facebook podcast, Safe Haven: The Unsolved Murder of Judith Petty, has started and has more than 700 members so far.
A $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction also has been offered, which has not been offered in the past and could be the incentive to get someone to talk, Poiani said.
"We're trying to get people to talk," she said.
Bucholtz is a former U.S. Army counterintelligence agent. She has worked for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City and Department of State as a law enforcement instructor.
Sandberg has a bachelor's in social work with a minor in law enforcement from Western Illinois University and a master's in social work from the University of Chicago.
Justin Rimmel, also a member of the cold case team, served in the Marines and produces the podcast.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.