Woman charged in 1985 murder of Wilmington man

MINQUADALE, Del. (WPVI) -- A woman is under arrest for murdering a retired school teacher in Delaware, more than 30 years ago.

Monday morning, police announced they cracked this cold case.

Sandra Hartzag, of Dalton, Georgia, is charged with murdering Joseph Braun, of Wilmington, Del., back on July 1, 1985.

54-year-old Braun was bludgeoned in his home on the 2200 block of Hearn Road.

A neighbor had called 911 after she had not seen Braun for a few days. Responding officers entered the home and discovered Braun's body on the second floor and his 1981 Silver Honda Accord missing. The car was located a week later in Philadelphia's Kensington section.

In 1999 two men provided investigators with statements saying they believed a relative had committed the crime. The suspect had died in 1997, but family members said his girlfriend, Sandra Hartzag, was present and involved in the murder.

Detectives, however, were unable to locate Hartzag and link her to the crime.

The case was reopened in October of this year. Investigators learned Hartzag was arrested in Philadelphia in 2001, which helped them to positively link her to Braun's home and his vehicle, but they were still unable to locate her.

The investigation led detectives to Dalton, Georgia, where Hartzag was finally taken into custody on Wednesday.

Hartzag, now 50 years old, has been charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy, and possession of a deadly weapon.

She is currently being held in Georgia awaiting extradition to Delaware.