Willow Grove Man Admits Cover Up In 1984 Child Murder

A Willow Grove man has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the death of a teen Bensalem girl more than three decades ago.

Robert Sanders, 53, on Tuesday pleaded guilty two felony counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution in the 1984 rape and death of 14-year-old Barbara Rowan in Bensalem, the Bucks County District Attorney announced.

Sanders provided false and misleading information to investigators and helped George Shaw dispose of the victim’s body, according to authorities. He lied about his role in the crime until 2015, prosecutors say.

Barbara was reported missing on Aug. 3, 1984. Her decomposed body was found two weeks after her disappearance in a wooded area between Rt. 1 North and North River Drive in Bensalem. An autopsy determined that she died of asphyxiation.

Authorities allege Shaw killed Barbara, and Sanders admitted he was in Shaw’s apartment when the teen was raped and killed. Sanders told investigators he helped Shaw carry her body from the apartment. The two men placed the body in the trunk of Shaw’s car and dumped it in the woods.

Sanders will be scheduled for sentencing within 90 days.

Shaw's murder trial is scheduled to begin June 5.