She was seven years old, walking to meet her mother in broad daylight, when a stranger approached her on the sidewalk. Nearly 60 years later, no one has ever been charged.
The Attack
On March 8, 1966, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, 7-year-old Wendy Sue Wolin was walking to meet her mother, Shirley Fleischner, just moments after the two had left their apartment separately. A man approached Wendy near a local fire station and fatally stabbed her. Several bystanders carried her into the firehouse, where firefighters discovered she was bleeding badly. She died at a nearby hospital less than an hour later. Investigators later learned that at least three other young girls reported being approached by a man matching the same description in the period before the attack.
The Investigation
Police interviewed more than 1,500 men, searched jails and psychiatric facilities across 13 states, and even searched a military ship preparing to depart for Vietnam. Despite the scale of the investigation, no charges were ever filed.
A Family's Silence
In the aftermath, Wendy's family largely stopped speaking about her, removing photographs and no longer marking her birthday, a response her sister, Jodi Wolin, has described as rooted in unresolved trauma rather than a lack of love.
A Suspect Emerges
In October 1995, the Union County Prosecutor's Office identified a possible suspect based on new tips, including from a woman who said she witnessed the stabbing. The man was brought in for questioning but was never arrested.
Where the Case Stands
Wendy's family created a small memorial near the site of her death. The case has been informally revisited by cold-case investigators over the years, but it remains unsolved.
FAQ
Has anyone ever been charged in Wendy Wolin's murder?
No. Despite an extensive investigation and a possible suspect identified in 1995, no charges have ever been filed.
How old was Wendy Wolin when she was killed?
She was seven years old.
Were there other reported incidents connected to the case?
Yes. At least three other young girls reported being approached by a man matching a similar description before the attack.