New Jersey college DNA team identifies 1979 murder victim as police work to identify his killer

NewsWorldAmericasUS Crime NewsNew Jersey college DNA team identifies 1979 murder victim as police work to identify his killerThe victim, Robert Dean Irelan, was found in a shallow grave nearly 50 years ago, according to policeOwen Scott Friday 24 April 2026 11:33 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2964246","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/new-jersey-robert-dean-irelan-murder-b2964246.html","title":"New Jersey college DNA team identifies 1979 murder victim as cops work to find killer"}}CloseNew Jersey police drop off food order after arresting DoorDash driver during deliveryThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Evening_Newsletter","regTitle":"Evening Headlines","subscriptionGroup":"us_evening_headlines","subscriptionGroupId":"4326e634-422a-4447-8e1e-604a937cd3b5","type":"daily_news","pathPrefix":["/us","/news/world/americas","/news/world/americas/crime"],"title":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday","mobileTitle":"Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveEveningHeadlinesUSNews","regSourceSection":"US Crime News","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate"...