State police seek tips in 1992 Union County homicide

State police are again asking for help in a Union County killing that has sat unsolved for more than three decades, hoping someone still remembers a name, a face, a vehicle, or a strange trip through Pennsylvania. Investigators say the case remains active, and they believe new witnesses, long-delayed memories or previously withheld details could still break it open.

The case began when a body was found Jan. 10, 1992, in a drainage ditch near Interstate 80 in White Deer Township, about 30 feet north of the westbound lanes. The victim was at the base of a wooded, rock-covered hillside beside the interstate. An autopsy later determined he died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police identified the man as Juan Carlos Cuervo of New York City, a taxi driver whose wife last had known contact with him on Dec. 31, 1991. Investigators say Cuervo reportedly left with unidentified passengers for an unknown destination in Pennsylvania and never returned. His white 1987 Chevrolet Caprice was found abandoned in Manhattan on Jan. 30, 1992, adding another hard detail to a case that stretched across state lines and decades.

For Union County, the killing is tied to a specific roadside stretch near a major highway, but the trail began in New York City and may have involved passengers who have never been identified. State police say anyone who saw Cuervo, his taxi, his white Caprice or anyone traveling through the area around that time should come forward, especially if the detail seemed minor then and only now feels important.

Tips can be shared with the Milton state police station, the PSP tips line or the PSP Tips portal. Pennsylvania State Police launched PSP Tips on March 28, 2024, for active investigations, cold cases, wanted persons and missing persons, and the agency says callers can remain anonymous when reporting criminal activity.

The appeal also points to the way state police handle old homicide work now. The Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit pursues unsolved homicide, missing-person and violent-crime investigations, and in 2022 the cold-case team began in-house forensic genetic genealogy work as a cost-saving measure. Founded in 1905, Pennsylvania State Police says it was the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States.