50-Year-Old Cold Case Of Philly Man's Homicide Gets New Push

PHILADELPHIA — The investigation into the 1973 death of a delivery driver from Philadelphia has been given new life.

Pennsylvania State Police are still looking into the homicide of Richard Stewart Wimbish.

Wimbish, 49, was found dead on January 13, 1973, in Trout Creek, Slatington Borough, in northern Lehigh County.

Police said Wimbish was shot to death.

His body was discovered by several local youths who were walking along the creek.

Wimbish's body was wrapped inside a sleeping bag.

He was last seen on Dec. 29, 1972, as he was leaving work.

Wimbish was employed as a driver for the Pennsylvania Trucking Company, 49th Street and Parkside Avenue in Philadelphia.

His normal delivery route took him from Philadelphia to Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Stroudsburg areas of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Wimbish lived in the Franklin Court Apartments in Philadelphia.

Police said he was supposed to spend the New Year’s Eve holiday with a female friend in Pleasantville, New Jersey, but never showed up.

His 1967 green Cadillac sedan was found on the 100 block of Duval Street in Philadelphia on Jan. 23, 1973, just several blocks from his home.

Anyone having information on this incident is asked to anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-8477 or online here.

All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a $5,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a crime/cold case or the location of a wanted person/fugitive or missing person.