Joy Hibbs 31-Year-Old Murder Solved

A Horrible Surprise

At one in the afternoon of April 19, 1991, David Hibbs arrived home, excited to hand his report card over to his mom, Joy Hibbs, with the good news that he'd made the honor roll. However, instead of finding his home in its normal state, plumes of smoke billowed from his home in Corydon, Pennsylvania, in the Bristol Township. Noting that his mom's car was in the driveway, David hurried to the back kitchen door, but thick smoke pushed him back.

Joy Hibbs with her son and daughter in 1979. Source: Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

David noticed that all four gas stove burners were on full blast. He thought that maybe his mom had been cooking and forgotten, and the house had caught fire. Panicked, David screamed for help. Neighbors doing yardwork heard him and tried to locate Joy, but the fire was too hot. The neighbors then attempted to put the fire out with a garden hose, but by then, it was raging.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the fire department had the fire out, and a paramedic delivered the news to David that his mom was dead.

The firefighters had discovered 36-year-old Joy Hibbs' body in David's bedroom, burned beyond recognition on remnants of his mattress.

A Brutal Death

At first, investigators believed Joy had died in an accidental fire, but her autopsy told a different story. Joy was already dead when someone set the blaze, as there was no sign of smoke inhalation.

The Hibbs' family home after the fire.

Joy's remains showed someone had severely beaten her, strangling her with an electrical cord, and then stabbed her five times in the chest and neck before her murderer intentionally set the fire, most likely to cover up evidence. A ploy that worked as the fire had gutted the home, and bystanders had trampled evidence in their attempts to put out the fire.

The Fire Marshall's investigation concluded that the fire had four points of origin — two in the kitchen, one in David's bedroom, and one in the hallway.

Investigators noted Joy had cashed her paycheck the morning of her death. Officers discovered her wallet shoved into the couch and her purse's contents…