Cold Case Tuesday: State Police continue to investigate the 1997 homicide of Richard H. Aderson of LaGrange

Cold Case Tuesday: State Police continue to investigate the 1997 homicide of Richard H. Aderson of LaGrange

New York State Police from the Wappinger barracks continues to investigate the 20-year-old homicide of Richard H. Aderson, age 47, of LaGrange, New York.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 1997, the New York State Police responded to Interstate 84, approximately 1/5 of a mile west of Exit 12 in the Town of Fishkill after the victim contacted 911 and reported that he had been shot.

Aderson, a former assistant superintendent for the Valley Central School District, was traveling east on I-84 in a gray, 1995, four-door Volvo sedan when he was involved in a fender bender, approximately 4 miles east of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge toll plaza.

Both vehicles pulled over to the side of the roadway by Exit 12 in Fishkill and reportedly were involved in a verbal altercation.  Aderson called Dutchess County 911 and reported that he had been shot by the perpetrator who had fled eastbound on I-84.  He provided authorities with information about the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle before he succumbed to his injuries while being transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh.

The suspect was described as being a white male, in his late 40s to 50, with a medium complexion, approximately 6’0 tall and had a thin build.  He was said to have a receding hairline, a thin nose, and was wearing aviator type eyeglasses.  The suspect was operating a late model Jeep Cherokee (possibly 1997) that was believed to be green in color and may have had New Hampshire license plates.

Aderson’s death continues to be actively investigated by police.  Over 3,000 leads have been followed throughout the investigation, which has taken members of law enforcement across New England.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Wappinger by calling (845) 677-7300.   Please refer to case # 3021797.  All calls may be kept confidential.

         
Suspect Sketch

Richard Aderson