In the spring of 1927, a profound tragedy befell the Abramowitz family, residents of a crowded tenement at 883 East 165th Street in the Bronx. On the afternoon of May 14th, twelve-year-old Yetta Abramowitz, a young Jewish girl, was given a small amount of money by her mother to purchase a toothbrush and toothpaste from a nearby store. She never returned. As daylight faded into evening, a frantic search for the young girl began.
The search ended in horror at approximately 10 p.m.
on the roof of a five-story apartment building at 1013 Simpson Street, just a few blocks from Yetta's home. Mr. and Mrs. Anton Castleman, who were visiting relatives in the building, discovered the girl's unconscious and moaning form. A taxicab chauffeur, Samuel Lieberman, carried her down to the street, and she was rushed to Lincoln Hospital. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries within half an hour.
The scene on the rooftop told a story of a brutal struggle. A child's ring had been torn from Yetta's fingers, which were broken. An iron pipe, believed to be the murder weapon, was found nearby, along with 35 cents in coins. The subsequent autopsy revealed the horrific nature of the crime: Yetta had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and struck with a blunt object, causing five skull fractures. The brutality of the attack led the press to label the perpetrator a 'sex-crazed maniac.' It is believed that the arrival of the Castlemans may have interrupted the assailant.
Despite an intensive investigation, the murder of Yetta Abramowitz was never officially solved. Police explored several leads, rounding up numerous local individuals known for preying on children, but these arrests did not lead to a conviction in Yetta's case. Over the years, speculation has arisen about potential suspects. Some have suggested a connection to Earle Nelson, a notorious serial killer active at the time. Another potential suspect considered was Peter Kudzinowski, a pedophilic serial killer. Albert Fish, another infamous child murderer, was also considered a suspect, as a man matching his description was reportedly seen attempting to lure young girls in the area on the day of Yetta's murder. However, Fish never confessed to this particular crime. The murder of Yetta Abramowitz remains a cold case, a chilling testament to a life cut tragically short.
