In September 1972, a dog returned home carrying a decomposed human forearm, leading police to a steep cliff in Springfield, New Jersey, ominously known as “Devil’s Teeth.” There, they discovered the nearly skeletal remains of 16‑year‑old Jeannette DePalma, who had been missing for six weeks. What followed became one of New Jersey’s strangest unsolved cases—an investigation clouded by rumors of witchcraft, missing evidence, and conflicting theories that still divide the community today.
More than fifty years later, Jeannette’s death remains a mystery despite many theories and possible suspects. Was she the victim of occult violence, a local predator, a serial killer, or something else entirely? Join us as we dive deep into the facts, the folklore, and the frustrating gaps in this enduring cold case. We also discuss other victims possibly connected to Jeannette’s killer: Joan Kramer, Carol Ann Farino, Mary Ann Pryor, and Lorraine Marie Kelley.
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Sources:
1974 Double Murder of North Bergen Teenagers Solved
Daughter of Jersey Executive Found Strangled
Death of Jeannette DePalma. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 2025, from Wikipedia entry summarizing the case details and developments.
Pollack, J. P. (2022). Death on the Devil’s Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey. The History Press.
Pollack, J. P., & Moran, M. (2015). Death on the Devil’s Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey. The History Press
‘Torso Killer’ Pleads Guilty in 1974 New Jersey Cold Case Murders
Weird NJ magazine issues. Coverage on DePalma’s case, including debunking of occult rumors.
