2 arrested for 1984 rape, murder of Bensalem teen

BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- Two men have been arrested for the 1984 rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl from Bensalem, Pa.

The suspects, George Shaw and Robert Sanders, were arrested within the past week, Bensalem Police and the Bucks County District Attorney's office announced on Friday morning.

Police say Shaw killed Barbara Rowan while she was babysitting his daughter and he was high on methamphetamine. Investigators believe she was suffocated.

Shaw was charged with criminal homicide and rape. Sanders was charged lying to protect Shaw.

But police say over time Sanders began to change his story and, last week, allegedly told detectives he was in Shaw's apartment in the room next to where Shaw attacked Rowan.

"And ultimately acknowledging helping dispose of the body," said Bucks County D.A. David Heckler.

Rowan was reported missing by her parents on August 3, 1984.

Her body was found in a wooded area between Route 1 North and North River Drive in Bensalem on August 16th.

Police said on Friday that Shaw was a suspect during the investigation, but no charges were filed due to insufficient evidence.

Investigators say the case was reassigned in 2002 and new leads were developed, leading to the arrests.

Shaw was arrested in Seminole County, Florida and Sanders was arrested in Monroe County, Pa. Both will be extradited to Bucks County in the new future, officials said.