Bucks Co. Man Admits Killing Wife, Dumping Her In River

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County man on Wednesday admitted he killed his wife at their Warrington home, put her in a trashcan overnight, then dumped her body the next day in the Delaware River. He told investigators he continued to use the very same trashcan that stored his wife's body for several years following her death, until it broke.

The admission in Bucks County court puts to rest a four decades long cold case following the 1981 disappearance of Gloria Korzon, who was 37 at the time of her death.

William Korzon, 76, pleaded guilty to counts of voluntary manslaughter, forgery and perjury, admitting he shot and killed his wife during an argument. He also admitted he forged documents and lied in court to cover up the crime.

He was subsequently sentenced to seven and a half to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors said the killing is considered voluntary manslaughter because he said he shot his wife in self defense.

Weeks ago, William Korzon provided a statement to investigators describing what happened on March 7, 1981 — the last day of his wife's life.

According to his statement, he and his wife began arguing at their Pickertown Road home when Gloria Korzon pulled out a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and shot at him. He said he wrestled the gun from her and then shot her.

After shooting her, he said he stuffed her body in a plastic trashcan and kept it in the house overnight. The next morning, he took the trashcan onto his boat, which he towed to a concrete boat launch just north of Lambertville, NJ.

William Korzon told investigators he went upriver before dumping Gloria's body into the Delaware River.

He sold the gun at a yard sale shortly after the killing, but continued to use the trashcan for several years until it broke, investigators determined.

William Korzon, who had since relocated to Lower Windsor Township, York County, also admitted he made "various attempts" to cover up her death – including forging her signature on financial documents and lying about her whereabouts while under oath.

He declined to speak in court, but said through his attorney that it was “time to unburden his soul” and accept responsibility.

“This is a great day for law enforcement and for justice. This resolution today gives us all hope in all unsolved cases, especially homicides," Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said following the sentencing.