Vernie Mitchell

"Vernie" Mitchell, born Jon Mitchell, was the son of Shirley Mitchell (1948 - 1994). His headstone reads: "Jon "Vernie" Mitchell 1965 - 1976 Love, Mom & Dad Sisters & Bros." Ten year old Vernie left home at 8 pm on January 28th 1976 to buy bread from a neighborhood store. His body was later found "mutilated with more than 80 cuts and stab wounds". He had been kidnapped, raped, and murdered. It turned out that the killer was a pallbearer at Vernie's funeral (see Man Charged in 1976 Killing) Also see Man convicted in 1976 sex assault, killing of 10-year-old Trenton boy loses another appeal to read a 2019 article about the case and the subsequent resolution. The crime was featured on "Nightmare Next Door, Unknown Murder". Details about the appeal are located at: Man convicted in 1976 sex assault, killing of 10-year-old Trenton boy loses another appeal