Just two days after Christmas in 2018, the life of 33-year-old Joslyn N. Bishop was cut short in what remains a mysterious and unsolved murder in Buffalo, New York. On the evening of December 27th, Bishop, also known to her loved ones as 'Booka,' was in the basement of her home on Stevenson Street. Her stepfather, who was upstairs painting, heard several gunshots erupt from the basement. Rushing downstairs, he made a grim discovery: Joslyn was on the floor, gravely wounded.
Despite being rushed to Erie County Medical Center, she succumbed to her injuries. The family she left behind remembers her as a funny, caring, and loving person whose smile could light up any room.
The circumstances surrounding her death are particularly baffling to investigators. Her stepfather did not hear any signs of a struggle, commotion, or even anyone entering the house prior to the gunshots. This lack of witnesses has made the investigation incredibly challenging. In the years that have followed, the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County District Attorney's Office have continued to seek answers. A reward of up to $7,500 has been offered by Crime Stoppers for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. While some tips have come in, none have provided the breakthrough needed to solve the crime.
The case has been described as cold, but authorities insist it remains an active investigation. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn has stated that while Bishop had a prior conviction for assault, her past has no bearing on the tragedy of her death and the pursuit of justice for her and her family. Her mother, Kim Perryman, and her siblings have been vocal about their profound grief and their unwavering hope for closure. They have created a shrine in their home to keep her memory alive, filled with photos and mementos of happier times. As they continue to mourn, they plead for anyone with information to come forward, hoping that one day the person or people responsible for Joslyn's murder will be brought to justice.
