Executive Summary
- Pennsylvania State Police offer a $5,000 reward for information on the 1985 murder of Robert Potteiger.
- The victim was found shot to death in his car along Route 39 in West Hanover Township.
- Investigators state the suspect likely entered through the passenger side; DNA evidence was recovered from the vehicle.
Pennsylvania State Police are offering a financial incentive for information leading to the resolution of a decades-old homicide investigation in Dauphin County. Authorities have announced a $5,000 reward for details regarding the 1985 murder of 49-year-old Robert Potteiger, who was found shot to death in his vehicle.
According to investigators from Troop H in Harrisburg, Potteiger’s body was discovered on December 16, 1985, along Route 39 in West Hanover Township. The victim, a self-employed furniture repairman, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a handgun.
Crime scene analysis suggests that an unidentified suspect entered Potteiger’s vehicle through the passenger side before discharging the weapon. Police reports indicate that the vehicle’s keys were found still in the ignition, and both doors were left open.
Forensic evidence collected from the scene includes DNA recovered from the interior of the vehicle which does not belong to the victim. State Police are urging anyone with information to contact PSP Tips.
Investigative Outlook
The introduction of a monetary reward combined with the existence of unidentified DNA evidence highlights the ongoing effort by law enforcement to close cold cases using modern forensic advancements. By publicizing specific crime scene details, such as the entry point of the suspect, investigators are utilizing strategies designed to prompt individuals with knowledge of the crime to come forward after nearly 40 years.
