10 More Unsolved Homicides In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — According to FBI data, around half of murder cases in the U.S. go unsolved. These investigations, known as cold cases, can last decades, and only rarely do they reach conclusions.

There are a number of cold cases active in Morris County, of which the investigators’ leads have run dry. According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, there are unsolved mysteries that date back decades.

See 10 active cold cases in Morris County below:

1. Shum & Toki Sang

On Jan. 18, 1971, around 9 p.m., Parsippany police were called to North Beverwyck Road on a report of two dead bodies.

Authorities found Shum Sang, 39, lying on the ground by his car and the body of Toki Sang, age 41, inside the car. The couple owned the "House of Sang,” a Chinese restaurant on Route 46 in Parsippany.

The deaths were ruled as homicides, and no suspects were arrested. A composite drawing below is meant to depict a person of interest.

2. Walter “Whitey” Burd

On the morning of July 8, 1980, Roxbury police were called to Circle Lanes Bowling Alley in Ledgewood on a report of a break-in.

Upon arrival, police found the body of 57-year-old Walter Burd of Landing. He worked as the alley's night security guard. His death was ruled a homicide.

3. Richard Sikorsky

On Aug. 11, 1980, 27-year-old Richard Sikorsky was found dead in his basement apartment on Western Avenue in Morristown, where he lived alone. No suspects were ever arrested during the investigation of his murder.

4. Dr. Rafael Morales

On July 24, 1981, Dr. Rafael Morales was found killed next to his car in a parking lot on Elm Street in Morristown. Morales was a forensic psychiatrist and maintained an office on Elm Street.

A white, two-door vehicle with a red interior was seen in the area around the time of the incident, but no suspect was ever caught.

5. Christopher Thomas

On Oct. 1, 1982, a man shot and killed Christopher Thomas while he was with his girlfriend at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.

The shooter was described as a white man, in his early 20’s, approximately 5’5” tall, thin build, with a slight, dark mustache, shoulder-length dark hair parted in the middle, wearing a blue coat and mirrored sunglasses. See a composite sketch below:

6. James Wescoe

On Oct. 1, 1982, around 3:15 a.m., James Wescoe, 34, of New Providence, was found slain on a train platform at the Madison Train Station in Madison.

Wescoe was at the Park Tavern in Madison about three hours before he was found. He was last seen walking alone on Lincoln Avenue just before 1 a.m.

7. Judy Brown

On Jan. 5, 1983, Judy Brown, 28, of Rockaway, was found killed in her 1973 Ford Maverick in the parking lot of Beefsteak Charlie’s Restaurant on Route 46 in Parsippany.

She was last seen alive by her coworker at Bell Atlantic in Ledgewood a day earlier.

8. Josephine Dawda

Josephine Dawda was found dead inside a home on Olyphant Drive in Morristown, where she worked as a live-in housekeeper, on Jan. 15, 1985.

A person of interest was seen in the area at the time of her death, described as an African-American man, in his late 20’s, approximately 6’ tall with a medium build.

9. Lester Mickens

On Sept. 18, 1986, 89-year-old Lester Mickens was found by neighbors in his residence at 1671 Route 23 in Kinnelon, where he lived alone.

He was last seen alive by a neighbor the afternoon before. Officials deemed the WWI veteran's death a homicide.

10. Robert Wunderle

On Nov. 16, 1989, Robert Wunderle, age 45, of Westfield, was found riddled with bullet holes in a drainage ditch near Fireman’s Field on Beach Street in Rockaway Borough.

Wunderle, VP of Economics at Supermarkets General Corporation in Woodbridge, was last seen alive the night before.

His 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis was later recovered in Manhattan, New York.

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Anyone with information on any of these cold cases is asked to call the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200.

Morris County's cold cases date back to the 1930s. See older ones here: These 12 Homicides Remain Unsolved In Morris County.