Pa. man who allegedly dug a grave hole in his garage convicted of killing his wife in 1984

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (TCN) — A 70-year-old man has been convicted of killing his wife more than four decades ago.

According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, a jury found Jere Bagenstose guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 25-year-old Maryann Bagenstose. Senior Judge John Kuhn will sentence the defendant following an investigation.

On June 5, 1984, Maryann Bagenstose went missing. Though her body has never been found, investigators concluded she likely died.

Prosecutors said Marynn Bagenstose never contacted her friends or family after her disappearance. Authorities performed multiple checks and searches but didn’t find any evidence that she planned to leave her residence. According to the district attorney’s office, the victim didn’t open any bank accounts or claim income, and there wasn’t any activity on her credit or Social Security number.

During the trial, prosecutors pointed to Jere Bagenstose as the primary suspect in his wife’s disappearance and death. Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman told jurors that Bagenstose “had the motive to kill Maryann.” The defendant was reportedly “facing a likely divorce,” which meant he would possibly lose the house and custody of their child.

According to the district attorney’s office, the victim was having an affair when she went missing. Bagenstose reportedly sold a vehicle without his wife’s permission. The defendant also allegedly provided inconsistent statements to police throughout the investigation.

Fetterman argued that in one instance, Bagenstose “dug a grave-shaped hole in his garage following Maryann’s disappearance and then gave conflicting stories as to why he did so.”

Bagenstose never reported his wife missing or asked about her whereabouts, prosecutors argued. Police reportedly sent postcards to the defendant posing as his wife, but the defendant never reported them. Fetterman also argued that the victim told co-workers days before she went missing “that Bagenstose would be responsible if she were ever to disappear.”