Police Identify Man Killed in 1979

Apr 24, 2026, 13:42

Introduction

A man was killed in 1979 in New Jersey. For many years, police did not know his name. Now, using DNA, they found his name. He is Robert Dean Irelan.

Main Body

Police found a body in a shallow grave in a wooded area. The man died from a gunshot to the head. He died in the winter of 1978-1979. For many years, police did not know his name. They called him John Doe. In March 2023, police started to look at the case again. Researchers at a college used DNA to find his family. Tracie Boyle said they used lists of DNA matches to make family trees. They looked for family in the Atlantic City area. They found the man''s name. He was Robert Dean Irelan. He lived in Pleasantville, New Jersey. He often went to Atlantic City. Police think he was 18 to 22 years old when he died. When police found him, he wore white pants, a plaid shirt, Pro-Keds shoes, a black-and-white sweater, and a blue jacket. The jacket had a gold letter ''R'' on the right pocket and a gold cross on the left pocket. Before they knew his name, police made a drawing of his face. Later, they found a photo of Robert Irelan. The photo looked like the drawing. Police talked to his family. They ask the public for help to find the killer. Boyle hopes people will give information. A local man named Herbert Ladner remembered the case. He said new DNA technology can help stop crime and help police solve cases.

Conclusion

Police still want information about the killer. Now they know the victim''s name. They can continue to investigate.

Vocabulary Learning

family
People related to you, like parents and children.家人
Example:They used DNA to find his family.
help
To do something for someone who needs it.幫助
Example:Police ask the public for help.
killed
To make someone die.殺死
Example:A man was killed in 1979.
name
The word that people call you.名字
Example:Police did not know his name.
photo
A picture made with a camera.照片
Example:They found a photo of Robert Irelan.

Sentence Learning

A man was killed in 1979 in New Jersey.
Passive voice: 'was killed' shows the action happened in the past, and the subject is the victim.本句使用被動語態（was killed），表示動作發生在過去，主語是受害者。
For many years, police did not know his name.
Past tense negative: 'did not know' describes a state that continued in the past.本句使用過去時否定形式（did not know），描述過去持續的狀態。
Now, using DNA, they found his name.
Present time word 'now' with past tense 'found' to show a recent discovery using DNA.本句使用現在時間詞（now）搭配過去時（found），表示利用DNA技術的最新發現。
He is Robert Dean Irelan.
Simple present tense 'is' to identify a person.本句使用簡單現在時（is）來辨識人物身份。
Police think he was 18 to 22 years old when he died.
Present tense 'think' followed by past tense 'was' and 'died' to express a current belief about a past fact.本句使用現在時（think）搭配過去時（was, died），表達對過去事實的當前推測。