Seven years after Pennsylvania teacher Susan Ledyard was pulled from Wilmington’s Brandywine River, her killing is still a mystery and her family is still waiting for the one tip that could finally explain her final hours. A $50,000 reward is now on the table for information that leads to an arrest in the unsolved homicide.
Ledyard, 50, taught at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill in Delaware County. Her body was recovered from the river in Wilmington on July 23, 2019. Her family has now teamed up with Delaware Crime Stoppers to push a fresh reward appeal, as reported by CBS News Philadelphia.
The Timeline Still Leaves A Four-Hour Gap
According to the Delaware State Police, Ledyard’s cause of death was blunt-force trauma and drowning, and the case was ruled a homicide. Her body, which showed visible injuries, was found near Northeast Boulevard. Her black Honda Civic turned up later near the Rising Sun Lane Bridge, about three miles upstream.
Investigators say Ledyard was active on her phone until about 2:45 a.m., and surveillance footage captured her car leaving her driveway at 3:02 a.m. Fitbit data indicated she was alive until roughly 7 a.m. Her body was discovered 39 minutes later, leaving a crucial four-hour window that detectives still cannot fully account for, according to the Delaware State Police.
Where her car was found has also remained a lingering puzzle. Detectives do not believe Ledyard went into the river where the vehicle was located, adding yet another unresolved piece to the case, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in a recent anniversary profile.
Family Keeps Pressing For A Break
Ledyard’s relatives have refused to let the case fade from public view, repeatedly appealing for any information about what happened before her body was found. In the latest public plea, the family said, “We miss Susan every day” and urged people to keep sharing details about the case, according to the state police.
The renewed spotlight comes as the homicide marks its seventh anniversary, yet authorities have not publicly identified a suspect. In coverage of the family’s push for answers, CBS News Philadelphia shows Ledyard’s sisters still pressing for any lead while investigators keep the case open and active.
Anyone with information can contact Delaware State Police Detective Daniel Grassi at 302-365-8441 or [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers, including anonymously, as outlined in the state police appeal.
