Human remains from 1974 are identified as Susan Gale Poole

After 50 years, the skeletal remains found tied to a tree in 1974 were identified as the remains of Susan Gale Poole. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Detective Bill Springer believes Poole was a victim of Gerard Schaefer, a serial killer who was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering two teenage girls in 1972.

Gerard Schaefer was a former police officer working for the Wilton Manors Police Department, and during the time that Poole went missing, he was working as a deputy for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

It was just before Christmas in 1972 when Susan Gale Poole, 15-years-old, went missing in Broward County. At the time of her disappearance, Susan Poole was living with her family at a trailer park in Fort Lauderdale but would sometimes stay at her friend’s apartment in Wilton Manors, according to CNN.

According to Detective William Springer, nobody knew her whereabouts. Poole had simply vanished, leaving behind her clothes, pocketbook, and all of her other personal belongings at her friend’s apartment.

It was about two years later, in June 1974, that Poole’s remains were found in an area near A1A in Palm Beach County. According to the Washington Post, Susan Poole’s remains were found tied up with wire to a tree in the mangroves. The case quickly turned cold.

During this time, Bill Springer is searching for evidence that can connect the murder of Susan Poole to Schaefer. Detectives are hoping to gather more information about Poole’s life and activities by speaking to friends or loved ones who knew and lived near Poole when she disappeared.

Springer is working alongside the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to find belongings of Poole’s in the items that the police confiscated from Schaefer’s home back in 1974.

As for Susan Poole’s family, Springer said that the news has brought Poole’s family closure after decades of not knowing the truth about the disappearance of their loved one.