Pennsylvania State Police are renewing efforts to solve a decades-old case involving two missing children, Karen and Michael Reinert, who disappeared over 40 years ago. Their mother, Susan Reinert, was found murdered in the trunk of a car on June 25, 1979, in Dauphin County. The children, aged 11 and 10 at the time, are presumed dead, but their bodies have never been found.
To aid the investigation, state police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of the children. The case has remained a mystery despite the conviction of two men, Bill Bradfield and Jay C. Smith, for the murders. Bradfield died in prison in 1998, while Smith's conviction was overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct.
A photograph found in Bradfield's cell, depicting a stone marker resembling a hooded figure, remains a significant clue, but its location has not been identified.
The Reinert case gained national attention, inspiring a book and a CBS miniseries. New evidence discovered in 1992 raised questions about the original investigation, suggesting possible police misconduct.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police in Harrisburg at 717-671-7500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.