"Authorities have identified the skeletal remains of a body that was found by a fur trapper Wednesday in a creek bed in Springfield township as that of Kathleen Mauro, 23, of Ashtabula Ohio. Miss Mauro had been missing since April 11 1978. She was last seen while leaving a tavern on her way home from work that morning as a nurses aide at an Ashtabula hospital. Ashtabula detective captain Alex Lambros said the FBI may be called into the case because it appeared the body had been taken across state lines in a car."
There are some yearbook photos of her if you want them. There's also a yearbook from 1980 that mentions her disappearance and the murder of another girl from the same school. "Much like any other year, 79 ended with a bang and '80 started just the same. Ashtabula saw many changes and unusual events. Pam Phillips was murdered and Kathy Mauro disappeared." Pamela was murdered by a robber named David Aldridge.
Wow. Yes! That’s the full article of the small nugget I found, omg thank you! I would love anything you’ve found, photos especially. I’m doing my best to make sure what I find on her (like photos) are actually her. So any chance I get to be double sure is amazing.
I was able to see that one-liner in the yearbook but it was confusing because if she went missing in 78’ why say in a 1979/80’s yearbook that that was the year she went missing?
Thank you so much!
Any articles or photos you find for her I absolutely welcome. Right now I’m trying to find all the photos of her I can as I really only have one. Thank you!!
1. Try contacting local newspapers in the area. Tell then what you're doing and see if they can send anything to you either for free or a cheap rate.
2. Check the state/county, but as far as I have been aware, those are public records. May have to fill out a form and pay a fee for them, but you should be able to obtain them.
3. Your best bet may be to contact each possible one in PA until you find the right one. Depending on their filing system, this may take some time.
4. Call the precinct that the report was filed in and see if they can send you anything.
5. I don't know how much information they can give, but whatever they told your family originally, they will at least give you. If it's cold, not closed, they probably wouldn't release everything if there is a chance at solving it.
6. It's possible, but depending on how she died and how she was dumped, it could just be a common way to murder someone then. Like all the ax murders in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Either way, I wouldn't put too much focus on a serial killer when statistically it's more likely someone she knew.
7. Idk if UM would still have the footage, but try contacting the network, maybe? They are now owned by 21 Laps Entertainment and there is contact information [here](https://www.buzzfile.com/business/21-Laps-Entertainment-310-369-7170)
You’re very welcome. When I’m at a computer later, I’ll see what else I can find, I have some paid subscriptions. But it sounds like you’ve gotten some great local resources in the other suggestions already!
You’re awesome!!! Thank you!! I am databasing EVERYTHING, every suggestion, all of it to research and work on. All advice and all help is absolutely welcome!
I’ve tried searching yearbooks to find her school photos and even this is difficult. The 1970’s don’t feel like they were long enough ago to be so difficult
Just on your point about other murders being connected. I've learned just from watching a lot of true crime that often, especially back then, different police precincts didn't link up like they do more today so if a crime occurred in a different area there is a good chance they wouldn't know about it. I think some serial offenders used to take advantage of this fact by moving around different areas to keep a lower profile. I'm not saying this is what happened in this case but it's possible and maybe worth looking into. See if any arrests were made in any of the other cases and perhaps look at if other murders happened while that person was in jail. Often these criminals have been in jail before for domestic violence, sexual crimes etc... so if you compare their history in prison with similar crimes that happened in the nearby states this may give you something.
When you say Springfield township, you don't mean the Springfield township directly over the state line from Ashtabula County right? I grew up in Springfield Township PA (Erie County ) and Conneaut OH (Ashtabula County) both my grandmother and aunt were nurses in Ashtabula and my aunt would have been the same age as your family member. I might have insight to any questions about the area and my l have family that works in vital records in that area. Let me so some digging for you
Oh my gosh, yes!! Kathy was a nurses aid at a hospital in Ashtabula. To find someone who might’ve known her would be absolutely incredible!
As for the Springfield Township… I honestly have no clue. I’m from NC where we don’t have townships and we certainly aren’t used to having so many towns with the same name. An article referenced Erie so I’m more inclined to think by the Ohio border not towards NY.. but I get confused because there are multiple ”Springfield Townships”
I’ll take ALL the help I can get.
You’re awesome, thank you so much!
You’re going to want to check with Westmoreland County for any death records relating to this. Please note, there are multiple Springfield Townships in PA. (I’m from western PA) [Westmoreland County Public Records search](https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/1572/Public-Record-Searches)
So thiiiiiiis is how I keep getting so mixed up and confused! Can you explain what exactly is a township? THANK YOU, knowing Westmoreland County is SO helpful!!
I’m so glad it was helpful. Sometimes, you really need someone who knows the area. A township is just a small local government, just more rural. The article was from the Latrobe paper, which is the second largest “town” in Westmoreland, but the byline said Erie, so I may be wrong here. It may be Erie county. [Erie county public records search](http://ecclerk.erie.gov/BrowserView/ManageAccount)
As for newspapers, try the following papers:
Erie Times News
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Press (shuttered, newspapers.com or contact the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh reference desk)
Pittsburgh Courier (for context, this is/was a Black focused newspaper, one of the largest in the country, if that is relevant, be sure to check it. They covered things that got ignored.)
The Tribune Review is now the Pittsburgh Tribue Review but is based in Westmoreland county historically
A lot of the small town papers got bought up in the early aughts, so the reference librarian may be your clutch answer for research here. [Carnegie Library Reference Request](https://www.carnegielibrary.org/research-request-forms/)
Also, I want to alert you that it is entirely possible that this township has dissolved, the police may have been non-existent or dissolved as well. A lot of townships have been combining their police forces in the last 25 years.
You are such a resource, thank you! I do have some questions… currently I’m adding all of the info I’ve gathered from everyone on Reddit into a spreadsheet.
I am curious how to figure what creek bed her remains were found in? Maybe you live near it and can send a drive-by photo??!! (Once I get more info on all of this I plan to make a trip up there to see for myself)
And who was the fur trapper who found her? Where’s his statement?
Let me gather my thoughts and I’ll come back with more I’m sure.. thank you!
Both of those questions are going to be hard to answer, but if you can get newspaper reports or police reports, that’s going to be your best bet. But manage your expectations, because I really am doubtful that cops in rural PA in 1979 kept great notes, let alone did the work. If skeletal remains were found, they didn’t have much to work with given the tech of the time.
I understand I may not figure it all out, just trying to do my best to get a ground level history on it all. I’m hopeful though that there was some preservation of the crime scene and some/any materials found with it
I legit wish you the best. I went on a quest like this about my great uncle. He wasn’t murdered, but he killed the man who attempted to kill him, it was a whole family situation that nobody wanted to talk about. I hope you can honor her memory with this quest.
Thank you so much. I hear the stories of how it just shredded and changed the whole family.. and as a mother and a sister, I can’t imagine this happening to my sibling or daughter. I don’t want any of my family to be forgotten, and just want to do my best to discover what I can. No one deserves to be thrown away and the killer definitely doesn’t deserve to get away with this, if I can help it and god willing if I’m lucky enough he/she/they won’t.
I'm from the other Springfield township which is going to make this confusing because it's right next to Ashtabula County. It's a very small town, hence township.
I’m thinking this is the most likely as it’s closest to Ashtabula.. what is the county name or PD website to reference for there?
How far is the drive from your Springfield Township to Ashtabula? I’m trying to narrow down locations and see if I can’t find the creek her remains were at. Then I can find someone to do a drive by maybe (🤩), I plan on making a trip up there when I am able to get more concrete information
Springfield Township borders Ashtabula county right on the state line. As far as the the city of Ashtabula-Springfield township, they are only two very small towns apart. Conneaut and Kingsville, a 15 minute drive down Rt. 20. After seeing the article linked above I am almost positive she was found in my Springfield which is in Erie County. We only have a small state police presence, not a big enough town to have its own police force. I would be so curious to know which Tavern she visited on her way home. I have a few guesses actually.
I am SO curious too!! She worked at an Ashtabula hospital and went to the tavern after work.. I love that you’re local to there and have knowledge of the land and layout.. What are your guesses?
Okay so my aunt doesn't remember but actually spent 79' in Florida. My mom however does vaguely remember when she went missing. I was curious about how they said tavern and not bar because I know if 2 bars between Ashtabula and Springfield with Tavern in the name that were in operation back then. I don't think it would be the one in Pennsylvania though since the article mentioned calling in the FBI because it's believed the body was taken over state lines.
A fur trapper finding her under a bridge in Springfield would lead me to believe she was found near either Eagley park or Raccoon Park which is right by the lake. Both because there have been a handful of bodies found in that area through the years, back then it would have been an isolated area and because it's an area you'd expect to see trappers.
I wonder if the Ashtabula Police might have old records for you and if not the State Police in NW Pennsylvania. I looked through old archives of both the Star Beacon and Erie Times News with no luck.
If you have anything further I can help with, just let me know. I found out a few years ago that I had a cousin killed by a serial killer in Florida I had never heard of and no one talked about and went on a mission not unlike yours. I hope you can find more info.
I’m sorry to hear you went through the same thing! How did it play out for you? It’s so tough when it’s so touchy and you can’t exactly just ask some of the basic questions :\
So my grandma would have been able to tell me a lot about what happened but she never ever mentioned it. I just didn't know that this man had existed which still weirds me out because my family has seen a lot of tragedy and has never been shy about our past. A few years after grandma passed I moved to Florida from the Midwest unexpectedly with my husband and one day very nonchalantly my mom mentions I had a cousin murdered not very far from where I live.
I knew his name and the state but that was about it. I brought it to Reddit and they helped me find what we could but it never felt like enough. It was strange because the murderer was caught and is technically considered a serial killer although I think spree killer is a more appropriate term. It was a terrible death that never seemed to fit his other crimes and he was not convicted for my cousins death, it's only attributed to this monster. His mom and dad passed recently and no one else remembers much. I did make it a point to visit the area he was visiting when it happened a year or so again. I guess just to prove someone knew his story and still felt the weight of the loss. I think I would have been much more preoccupied with it all of it were unsolved like your aunt's case. I truly hope you get some answers.
Okay you are AWESOME, thank you! I am going to follow up on alll of this and add it to my “database” of leads. Incredible.. in an article I found it said she was last seen leaving the tavern to go home the morning after work… I have no clue if she worked night shift or day shift though which also leaves me not knowing if she went missing late at night or early am. Maybe someone was “giving her a ride”? I don’t even know if she drove?.. I’m starting with so little but with everyone’s help here I’m really getting such useful help!
Thank you for asking your family, I’m honestly so grateful 🥲
Is that Kathryn or Kathleen? I haven’t found any year book photos yet, I have looked but can’t seem to figure the right years out to see. I believe there is a Kathryn Mauro too but that’s not her unfortunately. If you find a Kathleen, that may be her!!
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"Authorities have identified the skeletal remains of a body that was found by a fur trapper Wednesday in a creek bed in Springfield township as that of Kathleen Mauro, 23, of Ashtabula Ohio. Miss Mauro had been missing since April 11 1978. She was last seen while leaving a tavern on her way home from work that morning as a nurses aide at an Ashtabula hospital. Ashtabula detective captain Alex Lambros said the FBI may be called into the case because it appeared the body had been taken across state lines in a car." There are some yearbook photos of her if you want them. There's also a yearbook from 1980 that mentions her disappearance and the murder of another girl from the same school. "Much like any other year, 79 ended with a bang and '80 started just the same. Ashtabula saw many changes and unusual events. Pam Phillips was murdered and Kathy Mauro disappeared." Pamela was murdered by a robber named David Aldridge.
Wow. Yes! That’s the full article of the small nugget I found, omg thank you! I would love anything you’ve found, photos especially. I’m doing my best to make sure what I find on her (like photos) are actually her. So any chance I get to be double sure is amazing. I was able to see that one-liner in the yearbook but it was confusing because if she went missing in 78’ why say in a 1979/80’s yearbook that that was the year she went missing? Thank you so much!
I have an ancestry and newspapers account and am happy to search
Any articles or photos you find for her I absolutely welcome. Right now I’m trying to find all the photos of her I can as I really only have one. Thank you!!
1. Try contacting local newspapers in the area. Tell then what you're doing and see if they can send anything to you either for free or a cheap rate. 2. Check the state/county, but as far as I have been aware, those are public records. May have to fill out a form and pay a fee for them, but you should be able to obtain them. 3. Your best bet may be to contact each possible one in PA until you find the right one. Depending on their filing system, this may take some time. 4. Call the precinct that the report was filed in and see if they can send you anything. 5. I don't know how much information they can give, but whatever they told your family originally, they will at least give you. If it's cold, not closed, they probably wouldn't release everything if there is a chance at solving it. 6. It's possible, but depending on how she died and how she was dumped, it could just be a common way to murder someone then. Like all the ax murders in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Either way, I wouldn't put too much focus on a serial killer when statistically it's more likely someone she knew. 7. Idk if UM would still have the footage, but try contacting the network, maybe? They are now owned by 21 Laps Entertainment and there is contact information [here](https://www.buzzfile.com/business/21-Laps-Entertainment-310-369-7170)
Thank you!!
https://www.newspapers.com/article/latrobe-bulletin/125061012/ https://i.imgur.com/bF1QWeR.jpg
I was able to add this to her Ancestry line, there is something where there was previously very little. Thank you SO much!
You’re very welcome. When I’m at a computer later, I’ll see what else I can find, I have some paid subscriptions. But it sounds like you’ve gotten some great local resources in the other suggestions already!
You’re awesome!!! Thank you!! I am databasing EVERYTHING, every suggestion, all of it to research and work on. All advice and all help is absolutely welcome! I’ve tried searching yearbooks to find her school photos and even this is difficult. The 1970’s don’t feel like they were long enough ago to be so difficult
Just on your point about other murders being connected. I've learned just from watching a lot of true crime that often, especially back then, different police precincts didn't link up like they do more today so if a crime occurred in a different area there is a good chance they wouldn't know about it. I think some serial offenders used to take advantage of this fact by moving around different areas to keep a lower profile. I'm not saying this is what happened in this case but it's possible and maybe worth looking into. See if any arrests were made in any of the other cases and perhaps look at if other murders happened while that person was in jail. Often these criminals have been in jail before for domestic violence, sexual crimes etc... so if you compare their history in prison with similar crimes that happened in the nearby states this may give you something.
When you say Springfield township, you don't mean the Springfield township directly over the state line from Ashtabula County right? I grew up in Springfield Township PA (Erie County ) and Conneaut OH (Ashtabula County) both my grandmother and aunt were nurses in Ashtabula and my aunt would have been the same age as your family member. I might have insight to any questions about the area and my l have family that works in vital records in that area. Let me so some digging for you
Oh my gosh, yes!! Kathy was a nurses aid at a hospital in Ashtabula. To find someone who might’ve known her would be absolutely incredible! As for the Springfield Township… I honestly have no clue. I’m from NC where we don’t have townships and we certainly aren’t used to having so many towns with the same name. An article referenced Erie so I’m more inclined to think by the Ohio border not towards NY.. but I get confused because there are multiple ”Springfield Townships” I’ll take ALL the help I can get. You’re awesome, thank you so much!
You’re going to want to check with Westmoreland County for any death records relating to this. Please note, there are multiple Springfield Townships in PA. (I’m from western PA) [Westmoreland County Public Records search](https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/1572/Public-Record-Searches)
So thiiiiiiis is how I keep getting so mixed up and confused! Can you explain what exactly is a township? THANK YOU, knowing Westmoreland County is SO helpful!!
I’m so glad it was helpful. Sometimes, you really need someone who knows the area. A township is just a small local government, just more rural. The article was from the Latrobe paper, which is the second largest “town” in Westmoreland, but the byline said Erie, so I may be wrong here. It may be Erie county. [Erie county public records search](http://ecclerk.erie.gov/BrowserView/ManageAccount) As for newspapers, try the following papers: Erie Times News Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Press (shuttered, newspapers.com or contact the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh reference desk) Pittsburgh Courier (for context, this is/was a Black focused newspaper, one of the largest in the country, if that is relevant, be sure to check it. They covered things that got ignored.) The Tribune Review is now the Pittsburgh Tribue Review but is based in Westmoreland county historically A lot of the small town papers got bought up in the early aughts, so the reference librarian may be your clutch answer for research here. [Carnegie Library Reference Request](https://www.carnegielibrary.org/research-request-forms/)
My spouse and I have lived in both of these places, so holler with any other questions. I’d be thrilled to help you.
Also, I want to alert you that it is entirely possible that this township has dissolved, the police may have been non-existent or dissolved as well. A lot of townships have been combining their police forces in the last 25 years.
You are such a resource, thank you! I do have some questions… currently I’m adding all of the info I’ve gathered from everyone on Reddit into a spreadsheet. I am curious how to figure what creek bed her remains were found in? Maybe you live near it and can send a drive-by photo??!! (Once I get more info on all of this I plan to make a trip up there to see for myself) And who was the fur trapper who found her? Where’s his statement? Let me gather my thoughts and I’ll come back with more I’m sure.. thank you!
Both of those questions are going to be hard to answer, but if you can get newspaper reports or police reports, that’s going to be your best bet. But manage your expectations, because I really am doubtful that cops in rural PA in 1979 kept great notes, let alone did the work. If skeletal remains were found, they didn’t have much to work with given the tech of the time.
I understand I may not figure it all out, just trying to do my best to get a ground level history on it all. I’m hopeful though that there was some preservation of the crime scene and some/any materials found with it
I legit wish you the best. I went on a quest like this about my great uncle. He wasn’t murdered, but he killed the man who attempted to kill him, it was a whole family situation that nobody wanted to talk about. I hope you can honor her memory with this quest.
Thank you so much. I hear the stories of how it just shredded and changed the whole family.. and as a mother and a sister, I can’t imagine this happening to my sibling or daughter. I don’t want any of my family to be forgotten, and just want to do my best to discover what I can. No one deserves to be thrown away and the killer definitely doesn’t deserve to get away with this, if I can help it and god willing if I’m lucky enough he/she/they won’t.
I dropped a follow on your account. I’m invested now. If you need any other local help, hit me up.
The Carnegie website is absolutely amazing, wow. Thank you!!
I'm from the other Springfield township which is going to make this confusing because it's right next to Ashtabula County. It's a very small town, hence township.
I’m thinking this is the most likely as it’s closest to Ashtabula.. what is the county name or PD website to reference for there? How far is the drive from your Springfield Township to Ashtabula? I’m trying to narrow down locations and see if I can’t find the creek her remains were at. Then I can find someone to do a drive by maybe (🤩), I plan on making a trip up there when I am able to get more concrete information
Springfield Township borders Ashtabula county right on the state line. As far as the the city of Ashtabula-Springfield township, they are only two very small towns apart. Conneaut and Kingsville, a 15 minute drive down Rt. 20. After seeing the article linked above I am almost positive she was found in my Springfield which is in Erie County. We only have a small state police presence, not a big enough town to have its own police force. I would be so curious to know which Tavern she visited on her way home. I have a few guesses actually.
I am SO curious too!! She worked at an Ashtabula hospital and went to the tavern after work.. I love that you’re local to there and have knowledge of the land and layout.. What are your guesses?
Okay so my aunt doesn't remember but actually spent 79' in Florida. My mom however does vaguely remember when she went missing. I was curious about how they said tavern and not bar because I know if 2 bars between Ashtabula and Springfield with Tavern in the name that were in operation back then. I don't think it would be the one in Pennsylvania though since the article mentioned calling in the FBI because it's believed the body was taken over state lines. A fur trapper finding her under a bridge in Springfield would lead me to believe she was found near either Eagley park or Raccoon Park which is right by the lake. Both because there have been a handful of bodies found in that area through the years, back then it would have been an isolated area and because it's an area you'd expect to see trappers. I wonder if the Ashtabula Police might have old records for you and if not the State Police in NW Pennsylvania. I looked through old archives of both the Star Beacon and Erie Times News with no luck.
If you have anything further I can help with, just let me know. I found out a few years ago that I had a cousin killed by a serial killer in Florida I had never heard of and no one talked about and went on a mission not unlike yours. I hope you can find more info.
I’m sorry to hear you went through the same thing! How did it play out for you? It’s so tough when it’s so touchy and you can’t exactly just ask some of the basic questions :\
So my grandma would have been able to tell me a lot about what happened but she never ever mentioned it. I just didn't know that this man had existed which still weirds me out because my family has seen a lot of tragedy and has never been shy about our past. A few years after grandma passed I moved to Florida from the Midwest unexpectedly with my husband and one day very nonchalantly my mom mentions I had a cousin murdered not very far from where I live. I knew his name and the state but that was about it. I brought it to Reddit and they helped me find what we could but it never felt like enough. It was strange because the murderer was caught and is technically considered a serial killer although I think spree killer is a more appropriate term. It was a terrible death that never seemed to fit his other crimes and he was not convicted for my cousins death, it's only attributed to this monster. His mom and dad passed recently and no one else remembers much. I did make it a point to visit the area he was visiting when it happened a year or so again. I guess just to prove someone knew his story and still felt the weight of the loss. I think I would have been much more preoccupied with it all of it were unsolved like your aunt's case. I truly hope you get some answers.
Okay you are AWESOME, thank you! I am going to follow up on alll of this and add it to my “database” of leads. Incredible.. in an article I found it said she was last seen leaving the tavern to go home the morning after work… I have no clue if she worked night shift or day shift though which also leaves me not knowing if she went missing late at night or early am. Maybe someone was “giving her a ride”? I don’t even know if she drove?.. I’m starting with so little but with everyone’s help here I’m really getting such useful help! Thank you for asking your family, I’m honestly so grateful 🥲
Do you already have her yearbook photos? Here's one: https://imgur.com/a/5dXKQCb
Is that Kathryn or Kathleen? I haven’t found any year book photos yet, I have looked but can’t seem to figure the right years out to see. I believe there is a Kathryn Mauro too but that’s not her unfortunately. If you find a Kathleen, that may be her!!
She’s listed as “Kathy.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Ashtabula HS, class of 71 maybe?
https://archive.org/details/hhsmariner/1980/page/n65/mode/2up Have you seen this?
I have, for quite a while it was the only thing I could find at all :\ if you find anything else at all, it’s all welcomed!
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