Alexander Fezza

Asbury Park Press

Every day new stories appear about arrests made for heinous crimes.

But some cases remain unsolved for decades.

The Asbury Park Press and USA TODAY NETWORK Northeast have covered some of New Jersey's most notable unsolved cases, from murders to disappearances, dating back to the 1960s.

Take a look through this roundup of photos, videos and past stories and see if you remember any of these cases that shocked New Jersey communities and proved mysteries for years.

Check back at APP.com regularly as we revisit these cases and more in the months ahead, and subscribe today.

Cynthia Leeds, strangled, stabbed in her own apartment

On August 27, 1976, 21-year-old Cynthia Leeds of Brick Township was strangled and stabbed to death in her apartment in Kentwood Village, Brick Township. She was eight months pregnant, and it was suspected that the killer might have wanted to take the baby, since a slash wound exposed the fetus.

Raul Suarez, popular Atlantic City entertainer

The murder of the popular Atlantic City entertainer Raul Suarez on March 31, 1985 was a shock to the community.

Investigators have interviewed more than 160 people in connection with Suarez's murder in the three decades since the incident, with no arrests made.

See photos related to the case in the photo gallery above.



Joseph Hoopengardner, found dead in the woods

The murder of Joseph Hoopengardner in 1981 continues to mystify investigators. Hoopengardner, then a 44-year old plumbing business owner from Dover Township, was found dead in the woods of the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area.

The next day Hoopengardner's truck was found in a bowling alley parking lot, but it was wiped clean of all fingerprints.

Diane Mary Zaleski, stabbed to death in her own home

Diane Mary Zaleski, 54 years old, was stabbed to death on November 18, 2010 in her home in Union Township. Zaleski was not known to open the door to strangers, and there was no sign of forced entry, so it was suspected that the killing was by someone she knew.

It wasn't until more than a year later that Arnell Yearwood of Trinidad was charged with her murder. Authorities had conducted more than 100 interviews before the case went cold.

Investigators were finally tipped off when a person from out of state called with a tip about Yearwood based on a Facebook conversation, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

In 2014, Yearwood admitted to the killing and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is expected to be deported to Trinidad after serving his sentence.

Raul Torres, 23, shot in a Sears parking lot

Raul A. Torres, 23 years old, was discovered shot to death on November 25, 1992 in a Sears parking lot. New Brunswick detectives have re-opened the cold case, but it still remains unsolved.

What other unsolved New Jersey cases should we feature in the months to come? Tell us in the comments.