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Our family has waited nearly sixty-seven years to seek justice for the murder of my eldest aunt, Rosetta Westbrook Edwards, whom we affectionately called ‘Pie.’
Her tragic murder left an unhealed wound that has impacted three and a half generations of our family. After her death, my grandparents had to raise fifteen children – both Rosetta’s and their own – without the resources or support to pursue the truth in a world constrained by systemic racism. Rosetta’s murder created a trauma so deep that it has echoed through our family for generations.
Her children have all passed on, carrying the lifelong burden of their mother’s unresolved murder, which profoundly shaped their lives and the lives of those around them. My own mother, Rosetta’s younger sister, bore that same pain – an emptiness that could never be filled.
And that emptiness is still felt by my other aunts and uncles. Murder does not happen in isolation; it shatters families and breaks spirits. For over three decades, we’ve sought answers from law enforcement, only to face silence, dismissal, and dead-ends. Was Rosetta’s case not properly investigated because she was labeled a “pretty woman” or, as many reporters stated, a “Negro woman”? Was she objectified, reduced, and dismissed because of her race, gender, or politics? If law enforcement failed to act due to systemic biases or political considerations, we must ask if we want to live in a society where violence against Black, Indigenous, Women of Color, and poor women is not thoroughly investigated.
And if there was negligence in investigating Rosetta’s murder, could it have prevented the subsequent deaths of three white women with similarities to her case, between 1957 and 1961?
Injustice and neglect have consequences that reach far beyond one case. Today, with AI, image analysis, DNA testing, digitized records, and powerful databases available to all of us, I believe we will get closer to the truth. My aunt and I are willing to work closely with Albany investigators to find justice for Rosetta. I challenge the police and the residents of Albany to join us in our pursuit of justice. I call on the Times-Union and The Springfield Republican to get it right this time.
Show us that you have evolved over the past 67 years. Cover Rosetta’s story with the diligence and respect it deserved from the start. So long as it doesn’t impede any possible reopening of my Aunt’s cold case, I will seek guidance from the Albany Criminal Investigation Unit and share more details in Springfield, MA, on the 67th anniversary of her murder.
I find it sadly poetic that almost 67 years later to the day of her death, America is on the cusp of potentially electing the first Black female president. Though our society has changed significantly, there is still work to be done in how law enforcement and media handle cases involving marginalized women. Join us for our November 3rd press conference in Springfield, MA, or watch the livestream. If you have tips or information, please reach out to the Albany Police AND send tips to [email protected].
For updates, visit https://DiscoveringPie.com. Today, I ask you all to say and save her name: “Rosetta Edwards.” And save the names of all women who are victims of violence. Do not let their stories go unheard or forgotten. Thank you.
Update, October 8, 2024:
“Truth, will come to light; murder cannot long be hid.”
—Shakespeare
In Search of Justice: Uncovering 67 Years of Questions
Yesterday marked a pivotal moment in our quest for answers. Running on three hours of sleep, I navigated Albany’s maze-like streets—playing investigator, videographer, and navigator—searching for the truth about my aunt, Rosetta Westbrook Edwards. It’s been 67 years since her murder, and we won’t rest until the full story comes to light.
The Address Mystery
We made a discovery that raises significant questions. Official records and Rosetta’s death certificate, along with nearly every newspaper article, listed the crime scene as 99 Orange Street.
Yet Aunt DD, who was just 9 when Rosetta was killed, remembered a different location. She recalled visiting her sister’s apartment, and it didn’t match the official records.
“It was on a major thoroughfare,” she recalled—Clinton Avenue, lined with trees and bustling with traffic—not the quiet, run-down residential street across from towering smokestacks we found on Orange Street.
As we walked along both streets, Aunt DD provided vivid details of the apartment’s layout, with stairs leading to a neighbor’s door and an alcove below. My uncle Gene’s memories align with hers, yet we must remain objective. The official records point to 99 Orange Street, but even so, these records may be flawed. Aunt DD has a near-photographic memory and, as a visual artist, her descriptions are striking. Still, I must entertain the possibility of a misremembering, however unlikely.
Photos of 99 Orange Street from the 1950s, or of any property that might have stood at the now-vacant 57 Clinton Avenue, would be invaluable. Historical building plans could provide insight into this mystery.
The Meeting at the Albany Police Department
Our meeting with Commander Chris Cornell and Detective Josiah Jones was a step forward in our journey for truth, but it also raised concerns. While the officers were polite and professional, the records we were seeking—police reports, blotters, and, most importantly, the coroner’s report—were not provided.
We were directed to the Department of Vital Statistics, which handles death certificates, not coroner’s reports. This seemed like an unintentional misstep or perhaps a misunderstanding, but it did not yield the answers we need. They reassured us with, “Just because we haven’t found it doesn’t mean it’s not there,” but we were left with no timeline or path forward.
More Questions Than Answers
We walked away with more questions than answers:
Why was the crime scene address misreported in the death certificate and news coverage?
How did the four-generation Tuffey police dynasty affect the investigation?
Could Rosetta’s murder be linked to the subsequent killings of Dorothy Waterstreet, Beatrice Furbeck, and Carole Segretta between 1958 and 1961?
Startling New Clues
Later, at the Albany Library, we discovered an eyewitness composite sketch from the time of Rosetta’s murder. It bears a striking resemblance to a prime suspect—potentially linking him to Rosetta’s murder and the unsolved killings that followed. This further strengthens the need for a deeper reexamination of the case.
The Path Forward
We’re done waiting for promises. The time for quiet patience has ended. Our next steps:
Filing aggressive FOIA requests for any and all records
Planning an extended investigation in Albany
Rallying citizen investigators and civil rights advocates
Engaging journalists, politicians, and lawyers who will help us demand answers
For the last six months, Aunt DD and I have been tirelessly piecing together this case. Now, with help from kind strangers and little support, we’re closer than ever to the truth.
The Final Note
While the officers were respectful, I couldn’t help but notice inconsistencies. Referring us to the Department of Vital Records for a coroner’s report—records that simply don’t exist there—felt like a distraction. No seasoned investigator would make that mistake, and it added to my doubts about the transparency of this process.
CBS6, which initially expressed interest in Rosetta’s case, suddenly went silent. Where is the commitment to real investigative journalism? Where is the willingness to uncover the truth, no matter where it leads?
The time for silence is over. The time for justice is now. We will not allow 67 years of unanswered questions to remain buried. We are coming for the truth, and we will not stop until we find it.
For our press release and latest findings, visit: https://DiscoveringPie.com
And remember: Along with Rosetta, say the names of Dorothy Waterstreet, Beatrice Furbeck, and Carole Segretta. Their stories, too, deserve to be heard.
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