Police still looking for help with Gutkaiss cold case

STEPHENTOWN, N.Y. ( NEWS10 )– On July 8, 1983, police discovered the body of 15-year-old Robert Gutkaiss, opening a homicide case that remains cold 41 years later. Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect.

Gutkaiss disappeared after his first shift as a strawberry picker for Pease Farm on June 30, 1983. According to an article in The Berkshire Eagle’s Sept. 21, 1983 publication , Gutkaiss was last seen between 6:30 and 6:40 p.m. close to the intersection of Route 43 and 22 near Garfield Road.

Police found Gutkaiss’ body in a wooded area near East Road, three miles from Pease Farm. During the beginning stages of the investigation, Bureau of Criminal Investigations Senior Investigator Joseph Kivlin regarded Gutkaiss’ death as a sexually-related murder.

State Police Troop G and the State Police of Schodack are still working to solve the case. Anyone with information about the case can email tips to Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov or call (518) 457-6811.

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