Chasing the Boogyman: Part 1 The Cold Case of Holly Branagan

On March 28, 1979, 17-year-old Holly Branagan, a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, was found brutally murdered in her home in an affluent area of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At the time of her murder, Holly was on the phone with a friend when someone knocked at the door. She answered the door and returned to the phone, telling her friend she would call back, but she never did. The next day, her lifeless body was discovered by her older brother and a friend.

Holly had been stabbed 18 times, with 15 of the wounds in her back and 3 defensive wounds. Her murder was eerily compared to the film "Halloween," which had been released just a few months earlier and featured a similar home invasion scenario. Police believe that Holly's killer took advantage of her home setting. Holly did not seem to have any enemies, making it difficult to establish a motive. The nature of the stab wounds suggests that this murder was deeply personal. 

As we approach March 28, 2025, it will mark 46 years since the tragic murder of Holly Branagan. Still, no suspect has been officially named, and no one has been arrested in connection with her death. This case remains devastating and puzzling, contributing to the list of 35 unsolved homicides in Bethlehem. Perhaps this is the year that the person responsible for Holly's murder is finally brought to justice.