Remembering Suzanne Jovin

Twenty-seven years ago today, an idealistic 21-year-old Yale student with a promising future named Suzanne Jovin was stabbed to death several blocks from my home in an upper-class neighborhood of New Haven.

Her killer has never been held accountable.

Although I never met Suzanne I feel as if I knew her. Ever since she was murdered, on the night of Dec. 4, 1998, I have been writing about this unsolved case for the New Haven Register and Connecticut magazine. I have left those publications but I will continue to write about Suzanne for Substack.

Some of us can’t forget, can’t let it go. Of course this includes her family and her friends but also more than a few of the detectives, police officers and investigators who tried to bring the killer to justice, and a couple of reporters, including me.

I still live close to the crime scene. I run past it regularly, looking at the tall oak tree where she was found, mortally wounded with 17 knife wounds. I whisper her name or I say “Justice.”

But I’ve all but given up hope that there will be justice for her and her family.

Nevertheless, we continue to hope for a break. Every year on the anniversary of her death a few of us gather together by that oak tree to remember Suzanne. Sometimes we leave flowers in her memory.

Jack Edwards and Marcy Pillsbury, who tirelessly investigated this murder for many years for the state of Connecticut, came back to the site today, as is their tradition. Usually the three of us are alone in a private moment. But this year members of the media were tipped off and about 10 cameras were trained on the scene.

Jack and Marcy remained quiet but they arranged for Ed Kendall, a retired New Haven Police Department sergeant who worked on Suzanne’s case, to read a statement.

Kendall noted that on the night she died, Suzanne arranged and coordinated a holiday party for adults with learning disabilities.

“Later that evening at this location on East Rock Road, it is not forgotten that Suzanne Jovin was fatally stabbed 27 years ago,” Kendall said.

“The loss of Suzanne — who was a loving daughter, sister, friend and classmate — was devastating. Those lucky enough to know her knew she was a vibrant, kind and intelligent young woman at the dawn of her bright future.

“We are seeking further investigation and justice for Suzanne. We ask anyone who might have information to please come forward and contact the New Haven police.

“Law enforcement agencies and civilian people have worked hard on this investigation and over the years have had positive outcomes,” Kendall said. (He didn’t explain what he meant by “positive outcomes.”)

“That year in 1998 there were 15 murders in New Haven. All murders were solved and cases closed except in the murder of Suzanne Jovin. Why?”

Kendall asked everyone to observe a moment of silence for Suzanne.

Kendall, Jack and Marcy were careful not to express their frustrations with the investigation that never led to an arrest or conviction. “This is about Suzanne,” Marcy said more than once. The “why” the murderer has never been brought to justice was not discussed.

I have my suspicions as to who did it but I won’t point any fingers. In America, even under Trump, people are deemed innocent until proven guilty. And unless somebody comes forward with some solid evidence, the Jovin family and the rest of us who remember Suzanne will never have justice.