Jean Shrader, 26, was murdered on October 22, 1981, in Columbus, Ohio. Her body was found in a stairwell on the fifth floor of a downtown parking garage; an eyewitness reported seeing a man drag a woman’s body from a car into the stairwell that night, but the person fled before police arrived. The autopsy found Jean had been strangled, likely with a thin rope or wire.

Her husband, John J. Shrader, attracted immediate suspicion after red marks were observed on his hands shortly after the killing. No criminal charges were filed for the murder, though Jean’s parents sued him in a civil case over life insurance proceeds. The civil court concluded John had unlawfully caused Jean’s death. Separately, John was later convicted of perjury and bribery for actions related to the case and received a six-year prison sentence. The Franklin County prosecutor declined to bring criminal murder charges citing insufficient evidence.

The Columbus Police Department continues to seek information that could produce new leads in this unsolved homicide. If anyone knew Jean, saw her on October 22, 1981, or has information about the parking garage sighting, please come forward.