'Unsolved Mysteries': Who killed Sigrid Stevenson? Inside chilling story of New Jersey native beaten to death
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY: Netflix's upcoming docu-series 'Unsolved Mysteries' will delve into five real-life cases that remain unsolved, including mysterious disappearances, paranormal events, and encounters with strange flying objects.
One episode will explore the haunting murder of Sigrid Miller Stevenson, whose death on the stage of a locked campus theater continues to perplex authorities at a New Jersey college as new theories about the killer surface.
Sigrid Stevenson, a 25-year-old graduate student studying at Trenton State College in New Jersey, was tragically murdered in a brutal manner on September 4, 1977, as per Nj.com. After returning to campus following a hitchhiking journey through Canada and New England, she had planned to spend the night practicing piano in Kendall Hall.
It was a security guard who discovered Sigrid's lifeless body, naked and hidden beneath a piano cover, with her wrists bound behind her back. The authorities quickly ruled out robbery as a motive, as Sigrid's belongings were left untouched, and there was no evidence of sexual assault.
Despite various leads emerging over the years, the circumstances surrounding Sigrid's death remain a perplexing enigma that continues to captivate and haunt the community. The shadow of Sigrid Stevenson's grisly and still unsolved murder has loomed large over the College of New Jersey for close to forty years, sparking eerie tales and whispers about the tragic events that took place 47 years ago.
'Unsolved Mysteries' Volume 4: All about Sigrid Stevenson's early life
Sigrid Stevenson, originally hailing from Livermore, California, had spent part of her childhood in the Princeton University area where her father worked as a professor. She was pursuing her master's degree in music at TSC and had been residing with a professor during the summer leading up to her tragic demise.
Reports suggest that in the weeks prior to her death, Sigrid had reportedly traveled to Canada by hitchhiking. The evening prior to her tragic demise, she had been in attendance at a theatrical production held in Kendall Hall.
The following night, as a campus security guard made his rounds near the building, he noticed her distinctive green bicycle securely fastened to the fence. Upon investigating further, he found that the doors to the building were locked. Upon gaining entry, he stumbled upon the grisly scene of her dead body lying on the stage, brutally beaten and drenched in blood.
In 2016, college students made reports of supernatural occurrences taking place within the walls of Kendall Hall, alleging that the spirit of Sigrid was lingering and causing disturbances. An individual with psychic abilities who was brought to the campus to investigate the situation put forth the theory that Sigrid may have been the victim of a violent attack by someone familiar to her, potentially even a member of the campus security team who had previously made unwanted advances towards her.
'Unsolved Mysteries' Volume 4: What was the cause behind the death of Sigrid Stevenson?
Subsequent investigations by authorities revealed that Sigrid Stevenson tragically lost her life as a result of a fractured skull and extensive bleeding from cuts on her face and scalp. It was concluded that the primary factor in her death was the severe head injuries she suffered during the incident.
The authorities revealed that there was a faulty door in the building that could be opened with enough force. As of this moment, it remains unclear whether Sigrid was planning to spend the night in the theater or if she was just there to play the piano, as some of her friends had suggested.
Law enforcement officers went to great lengths to reconstruct the events that occurred before the unfortunate incident took place. Despite their efforts, no one was ever officially charged in relation to the incident.
'TCNJ' student Scott Napolitano was intrigued by Sigrid Stevenson's murder case
Upon his arrival at the campus in 2002, Scott Napolitano was captivated by the various tales surrounding Sigrid's murder that took place at Kendall Hall.
“The first time I heard about it was around Halloween my freshman year. You hear it three or four times and the stories don’t match up," Napolitano shared.
However, it wasn't until his senior year that Napolitano delved deeper into the mystery, eager to uncover the truth behind the death that had occurred within the walls of the building. He was determined to unravel the details of the case.
Napolitano, a film student in the communication studies department, was working on a senior thesis project that involved creating a short film, and he chose to explore the case surrounding Kendall Hall.
Determined to uncover the truth behind the haunting case, Napolitano delved into the history of the building and the mysterious events that had taken place there. Through his research, he discovered a disturbing connection to the real-life murder that had occurred during a school break in the 1970s, shedding new light on the dark past of Kendall Hall.
Napolitano who is now a high school film teacher had a meeting with the Ewing Police Department following his graduation in 2006. While they were unable to disclose many details, this encounter provided him with a better understanding of the fundamental aspects of the case.
“That gave me enough fuel to kind of keep looking into it,” Napolitano said.
Over the years, Napolitano has gradually uncovered additional information about the case and gained more insights into Sigrid's life. Through conversations with individuals who were acquainted with her, Napolitano has pieced together a portrait of her intriguing life.
Talking of Sigrid, he said, “She wasn’t concerned with what other people thought; she did her own thing."
“It was interesting hearing all of these warm recollections and then seeing the haunted look of all the people who worked on the case. They all had the same look of sadness," Napolitano further added.
Nearly two decades later, Napolitano remains haunted by the case that first piqued his interest. “I don’t like unfinished stories. I want to know what happened. I want to know more about who Sigrid was,” Napolitano shared.
'Unsolved Mysteries' Volume 4 premieres on July 31, 2024, only on Netflix.