Suzanne Jovin was a popular senior at Yale University, studying political science and international relations. Despite her tough class schedule, the busy student from Germany also found time to help disabled people who lived in New Haven. On the night of December 4, 1998, Suzanne attended a party she'd helped organize for people with disabilities. Between 8:30 and 9pm, she returned keys she'd needed for the party to the campus police station. She was last seen walking away from the station. About an hour later, Suzanne's body was found in New Haven's wealthy East Rock neighborhood. She had been stabbed 17 times in the back and neck and was bleeding to death. That neighborhood was more than a mile away from where Suzanne was last seen.

Neighbors in the area where Suzanne's body was found heard a man and woman arguing and someone screaming around the time she was killed. Witnesses heard the woman saying "why are you doing this to me?"

The State's Attorney's office says Suzanne may have gotten into a car with someone, who drove her to the neighborhood. They say based on the distance and the clothes she was wearing, she probably did not walk there. They have no reports of anyone seeing someone force Suzanne into a car, and say it's unlikely she would have gotten into a car with a stranger.

Traces of someone's DNA were found under Suzanne's fingertips; however, that DNA has never matched anyone, and it's not known if it's relevant to the crime.

Forensics expert Dr. Henry Lee examined the clothes that Jovin was wearing the night she was killed, looking for clues. Lee is best known for his work on the Nicole Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey murder investigations

Suzanne's thesis advisor at Yale was initially considered a suspect in the case. There was also speculation that the crime may be linked to Suzanne's senior thesis paper, which was on international terrorism and a Saudi citizen whose name few had heard at the time: Osama Bin Laden. Some believe her detailed research on the subject could have led to her murder. Police have discounted this theory.

New Haven State's Attorney's Office: 203-789-7801
New Haven Police Tip Line: 1-866-888-TIPS

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Police/TipsCase1.asp