Alexandra Van Rensselaer Devereux Gross, aged 68, was tragically murdered on July 16, 1982, in her home in Villanova, Pennsylvania. She was a Caucasian woman who lived a comfortable life with her husband, Courtlandt Gross, and their housekeeper, Catherine VanderVeur. The trio was found shot to death, which shocked the wealthy Philadelphia Main Line community.
The investigation into their murders led to the arrest of Roger Peter Buehl, a 23-year-old drifter who was already in custody on robbery and firearm charges. Buehl was linked to the crime through a series of circumstantial evidence, including the use of a red Buick that was seen near the Gross estate on the day of the murders. Forensic evidence also connected the bullets used in the killings to an armed robbery committed by Buehl.
In January 1983, Buehl was tried and convicted of first-degree murder for the killings of Alexandra Gross, her husband, and their housekeeper. He was sentenced to death for each of the three murders. The case drew significant attention due to the brutality of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.
The Gross family's tragic end remains a somber chapter in the history of Villanova, Pennsylvania, and serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime on families and communities.
