Who Killed Dolores And Joan? 15-Year-Old New Jersey Cold Cases Leave Questions

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — Dolores Alliotts and Joan Davis were both killed in Bergen County 15 years ago, in towns five miles apart. The modus operandi of the killer was similar.

"Following the homicide, the suspect lit a fire inside of the residence in an attempt to cover up the crime scene," said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office about the Alliotts killing. The same was true four months later when Davis was killed.

Fifteen years after their deaths, prosecutors are still seeking information from the public, said Deputy Chief of Detectives Jeff Angermeyer last week.

"The key to unlocking this case, and finally bringing closure to the victims’ families, may reside in the memory of a single community member," Angermeyer told Patch.

He added, "It is never too late to do the right thing and help us deliver the justice these families so desperately deserve."

55 Stab Wounds

Palisade Park police responded shortly after 2:30 a.m. on April 28, 2010, to 261 12th Street on the report of a house fire. They found Dolores Alliotts, 69, dead with blunt injuries to her head and 55 stab wounds.

"Alliotts was the victim of a cold blooded murder," prosecutors said.

Someone lit a fire after killing her, prosecutors say.

Around four months later, five miles away, Teaneck police headed to 976 Alpine Drive just before 11 p.m. on a report of a house fire.

They found Joan Davis, 74, the victim of blunt force injuries and "multiple" stab wounds. She was bound by her hands and feet, police said.

Based on surveillance video and evidence left at the scene, detectives determined that her killer was one man. They said he wore a size 9-10 shoe and was likely under 160 pounds.

The image above was released by detectives.

Dolores And Joan

According to Dolores Alliotts’ obituary, she was a lifelong Palisades Park resident who had no children, but did have two brothers and several nieces and nephews.

Alliott lived alone in her home in Palisades Park, said a story on CBS News in 2013. The story was published after her family offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to a suspect.

"Investigators believe the killer may have been a young adult who had previous interactions with Alliotts," the story said.

Joan Davis of Teaneck also lived alone, but she had a sister and five niece and nephews.

Her obituary said she has kept busy. After graduating from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut in 1958, she "was briefly employed with the U.S. Agency for International Development, was a freelance writer, a local political activist and a concerned citizen of Teaneck."

"I was shocked and saddened to read the article in the New York Times about the brutal murder of Joan Curello Davis," wrote a friend, on her memoiral tribute wall. "She was an old friend of mine when we both worked at the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1967-68. She was very intelligent, attractive and loved life … She was a pacifist and wouldn't hurt a flea."

The friend added, "In the 1970s, she developed problems, quit her job and sadly disappeared from Washington life."

A nephew told CBS News that his aunt had become a bit “paranoid” and could be a gadfly in town, but he had fond memories of her. Local politicians interviewed by the New York Times had fond memories as well, saying she attended nearly every town meeting to hold people accountable, but was "harmless."

Detectives said they believe the women’s killings were related. One story quoted a detective as saying that the perpetrator possible had a fetish for older women. Little was taken from the homes.

Videos Released 11 Years Later

Four years ago, detectives released a surveillance video that showed someone walking toward Davis' house with a "satchel-style backpack." The person left the area nearly two hours later, walking past firetrucks.

Homicide Detective Matthew Zablocki described the bag as a "satchel-style backpack" in a video about the crime that was added to the prosecutor's website several years ago.

The video, made by the Cold Case Task Force, shows both victims' burned houses and discusses the cases in an attempt to find out more information. The video can be found here.

Lingering Questions

Many questions remain. How would someone have gotten to know both women, who lived in different towns? Is the person still out there? Does he have other victims?

Detectives have said in news reports that both women had battled mental health issues, and both liked to sit outside their homes. But they couldn't find other connections.

Angermeyer said, "Our detectives, analysts, and assistant prosecutors from the Prosecutor’s Office remain dedicated to reviewing every piece of evidence with the latest technology."

He added, "In Bergen County, time does not diminish our resolve—it only sharpens it."

Anyone with information can leave tips here.