Thomas Garvey

On a quiet summer evening in 1985, the lives of two friends were violently cut short in a crime that has remained unsolved for decades. Thomas Garvey, a 29-year-old White man, and his friend, 26-year-old Bart Spayd, were found shot to death on Thursday, July 11, in the driveway of Garvey’s home in Newark, Delaware. The brutal double homicide, which shattered the peace of their rural neighborhood, has left a legacy of unanswered questions that continues to haunt the community and investigators.

The scene of the crime was 2195 Pleasant Valley Road, a stretch of country road near the area of Glasgow, just off U.S. Route 40. That night, the tranquility was broken by the sound of multiple gunshots. When Delaware State Police troopers arrived, they discovered both Mr. Garvey and Mr. Spayd lying in the gravel driveway of the modest house. Both men had sustained several gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. The attack appeared to be sudden and brutally efficient, a burst of violence that ended two young lives before anyone could intervene or witness the act.

In the immediate aftermath, investigators worked to piece together a timeline of the men's final hours. The initial search for clues proved difficult. There were no direct eyewitnesses to the shootings. The only lead came from neighbors who reported hearing a car speeding away from the residence shortly after the gunshots rang out. However, no one was able to provide a description of the vehicle or its occupants. The assailant, or assailants, had vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a crime scene with little publicly released evidence and no immediately apparent motive.

The investigation into the murders of Thomas Garvey and Bart Spayd became one of the Delaware State Police's most enduring cold cases. Over the years, detectives have periodically revisited the file, hoping for a new lead or a breakthrough in forensic technology that could shed light on the mystery. Information has been scarce, and with no suspects publicly identified, the case has remained frozen in time, defined by the stark facts of that July night. The names of Garvey and Spayd are listed on the state police’s roster of unsolved homicides, a silent testament to a crime that has defied resolution.

Decades have passed since the killings, but the memory of the two friends has not entirely faded. Online memorials and cold case websites continue to feature their story, reminding the public that justice has not yet been served. These digital remembrances ensure that Thomas Garvey and Bart Spayd are more than just statistics; they were young men whose futures were stolen from them in a moment of extreme violence. The shared nature of their deaths has inextricably linked them in public memory, two friends tragically lost together.

As of today, the case officially remains open but inactive. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to ask for the public's help. They believe that even after all this time, someone may hold a piece of information that could be the key to solving the double murder. Anyone with knowledge regarding the homicides of Thomas Garvey and Bart Spayd is encouraged to contact the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit at (302) 739-5939 or submit a tip through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. The hope remains that a crucial witness will finally come forward, bringing closure to the families and friends who have waited so long for answers.