Home / Crime and Justice / Botany Student Slain in Forest: Unsolved Case
Botany Student Slain in Forest: Unsolved Case
24 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Jane Prichard was fatally shot in a Delaware forest while conducting research.
- The murder occurred in 1986, and the case remains unsolved after 37 years.
- Police seek a Caucasian male suspect last seen in the area.
On September 20, 1986, Jane Marie Prichard, a 28-year-old graduate student from the University of Maryland, met a tragic end in Blackbird State Forest, Delaware. Prichard was in the forest to conduct research for her master's degree in botany when she was fatally shot.
She was discovered by campers later that day, having been shot in the back and neck with a shotgun. Despite numerous hunters being in the area, investigators ruled out accidental shooting. A key witness reported seeing Prichard alive shortly after 10 a.m., providing detectives with a description of her equipment and clothing.
Authorities have been seeking a Caucasian male suspect, described as having a beard and being approximately 5'09" to 5'10" with a medium build, wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans. For 37 years, the case has remained unsolved, with law enforcement continuing to appeal for information.
