Bucks County man searches for information in 1975 stabbing death of his sister

Police say robbery is unlikely since Patty Bartlett's purse, wallet, and shopping bag of photo supplies were all recovered.

ByRick Williams and Heather Grubola WPVI logo
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Bucks County man searches for information in 1975 stabbing death of his sister
Bucks County man searches for information in 1975 stabbing death of his sister

LANGHORNE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Nearly five decades have passed since the fatal stabbing of a teenage girl in the parking lot of a Bucks County mall.

Now, her brother is coming forward to make a plea to finally close her case.

Glen Bartlett was 13 years old when his sister Patty Bartlett was killed in 1975.

"Feels like yesterday," Glen told Action News.

He says Patty's passion was photography.

"She was going to the Philadelphia Art Institute for photography," Glen said.

On January 13, 1975, the 17-year-old was out getting film.

"The first snowfall of the season, she was going to get film up at the Oxford Valley Mall," Glen recalled.

At 5:30 p.m., Patty was walking to her car when she was attacked. She was stabbed four times.

She made it back into the entrance of the store Gimbel's to get help. Medics rushed her to the hospital, where she later died.

Police say robbery is an unlikely motive since her purse, wallet, and shopping bag of photo supplies were all recovered at the scene.

Glen says an encounter with Patty a week before her death has always troubled him.

"I remember her working. She was working as a waitress at Coco's and somebody followed her home. She was scared to death of the guy," he said. "After about five minutes the guy took off, he left and a week later she was gone."

The Citizens Crime Commission is administering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

All you have to do is call 215-546-TIPS. All calls will remain anonymous.