New Castle County police are taking another hard look at the 1974 killing of Odell White Jr., a Claymont business owner and U.S. Army veteran whose body was found in the back of his own box truck. Investigators say White was last seen in the Philadelphia area on February 11, 1974, and later turned up at the former Tri‑State Mall site. Detectives are now asking residents to share any old memories, photographs or records that might help shake loose new leads.
County Releases Cold-Case Review
According to New Castle County, the one‑page cold‑case review lists White as a 56‑year‑old local business owner and 20‑year U.S. Army veteran. The document states that his truck was parked in a field behind the Levitz Furniture store at the former Tri‑State Mall on Naamans Road, and that he died of asphyxiation. The file notes White was last seen in Philadelphia on February 11, 1974, and was found about a month later during a routine county patrol.
How To Reach Detectives
Investigators are asking anyone who might know something, or who has old photos or paperwork related to White or his business, to get in touch. Tips can be emailed to [email protected] or called in to the Criminal Investigations Unit at (302) 395-8110. As posted on Facebook, information can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or through the P3 Tips app. The group advertises rewards up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Cold-Case Unit Leans On Social Posts And Forensics
New Castle County's cold‑case squad has increasingly leaned on social media and newer forensic techniques to breathe life into older files. Officials say that strategy can pull in witnesses who might not otherwise speak up, or jog memories that have been gathering dust for decades. WHYY reported that the unit posts case summaries and videos online to widen the audience and potentially spark fresh tips.
Detectives emphasize that even small details such as a partial license plate, a face spotted near the truck, or a recollection of unusual activity on Naamans Road in February 1974 could be crucial. Anyone with historical information about Odell White Jr. or the movements of his box truck is urged to contact the New Castle County Criminal Investigations Unit or submit an anonymous tip through Delaware Crime Stoppers.
