The “Man in the Lee Jacket”: NJ State Police Identify 1979 Cold Case Victim—Do You Know Him?
photos courteys of NJ State Police
the staf fof the Ridgewood blog
Quinton Township NJ, After 45 years of mystery, a “John Doe” discovered in a shallow grave in Salem County finally has a name. But while the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) now know who he was, they still don’t know who killed him.
The NJSP Cold Case Unit is asking for the public’s help to piece together the final days of Robert Dean Irelan.
A Gruesome Discovery in Quinton Township
On June 2, 1979, the body of an unidentified white male was found in a wooded area off a dirt road near Jericho Road in Quinton Township. Investigators determined the man had been murdered, suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Forensic experts estimated the time of death occurred months earlier, during the harsh winter of 1978–1979. For decades, the case went cold, with the victim known only by the distinctive clothing he was wearing:
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White painter’s pants and black Pro-Keds sneakers.
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A heavy black-and-white pullover sweater and a plaid shirt.
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The “R” Jacket: A dark blue, waist-length Lee wool jacket. On the right pocket flap was a gold-plated initial “R”, and on the left, a small gold-plated cross.
How DNA Science Cracked a 45-Year-Old Mystery
The breakthrough came in March 2023. The NJSP Cold Case Unit partnered with the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center.
By using advanced DNA testing and family-tree mapping—the same technology used to catch the Golden State Killer—investigators officially identified the victim as Robert Dean Irelan.
Who Was Robert Dean Irelan?
At the time of his disappearance in the late 1970s, Robert was living in Pleasantville, New Jersey. He was a familiar face in the Atlantic City area during a pivotal era for the city.
Now that Robert has his name back, detectives are shifting their focus to his social circle, his employment, and any potential conflicts he may have had in Atlantic County or Salem County before his death in the winter of 1978.
How You Can Help
Did you live in Pleasantville or Atlantic City in the late 1970s? Did you know a man named Robert Irelan who wore a jacket with a gold “R” and a cross? Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
If you have any information, please contact the NJSP:
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Email: ColdCase@njsp.gov
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Subject: Robert Dean Irelan Investigation
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Anonymous tips are fully welcomed.
Help the State Police bring justice to a family that has waited nearly half a century for answers.
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Tags: #ColdCase #NewJersey #NJSP #TrueCrime #Justice #AtlanticCity #SalemCounty #DNAEvidence #RobertDeanIrelan
Quite a story, let’s hope that the authorities can connect the dots quickly.
Kudos to Ramapo College, not the first time that they have resolved a cold case.
Ramapo College students involved in solving these cold cases are amazing. Good work!
It’s odd that there’s no mention of family or a missing person report? Based upon that, and what information is in the media, I suspect that he left his family under stressful circumstances and no further contact was made.
I am surprised that he was not identified years ago. Did the family file a missing person’s report? Maybe he was estranged. but someone must have missed him. He was young, must have had a social circle.