The Unsolved Murder of Melissa Manhart (2017) – A Pittsburgh Cold Case

The Unresolved Homicide of Melissa Manhart: A Deep Dive into an Enduring Mystery

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Executive Summary

The murder of Melissa Manhart, a 42-year-old mother of two, on August 11, 2017, in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood remains a heartbreaking and unsolved mystery. Discovered on the back porch of a residence she had just moved into, Melissa’s death was ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head. Despite early investigative efforts including the questioning of her boyfriend and others connected to the property no arrests were made, and no suspect has ever been named. This deep dive explores the timeline, investigative challenges, and the ongoing impact on Melissa’s grieving family as they search for answers in a case that’s grown cold but never forgotten.

1. A Mother, A Porch, A Mystery

On a warm Friday evening August 11, 2017 the Larimer neighborhood of Pittsburgh fell under a shadow. Melissa Manhart, 42, had recently moved into a multi-unit residence at the corner of Paulson Avenue and Brainard Street. Around 5:30 p.m., a passerby spotted her lying on the back porch in a pool of blood and immediately called 911.

First responders arrived swiftly. Police initially labeled it a “suspicious death” but that changed fast. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner confirmed what Melissa’s family feared: a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Her death was ruled a homicide, and Pittsburgh had a murder mystery on its hands.

2. Scene of Silence: No Clues, No Gunshots, No Answers

The first thing investigators noticed? What wasn’t there.

• No weapon.
• No evidence markers.
• No witnesses.
• No ShotSpotter alerts.

ShotSpotter, the city’s gunfire detection system, hadn’t picked up a thing. Police spokeswoman Sonya Toler admitted bluntly, “There is absolutely nothing on the scene that gives us a clue right now.”

That silence was deafening. No signs of a struggle. No noise reported. No camera footage released. If the scene hadn’t been so bloodstained, one might’ve thought Melissa died peacefully in her sleep.

This eerie absence of forensic evidence suggested one of two grim possibilities:

1. The killer was methodical either cleaning up the scene or taking steps to avoid detection.
2. Melissa may have been killed elsewhere and her body moved to the porch.

Both scenarios point to someone who either knew what they were doing or had no fear of consequences.

3. A Boyfriend, a House, and a Vanishing Act

Melissa had only moved into the house two days earlier. According to the landlord, she didn’t technically live there she was visiting her boyfriend.

That same boyfriend was brought in for questioning immediately after her body was found.

Here’s where things get murky: the landlord claimed he hadn’t seen the boyfriend since.

Police clarified that he was not being named a suspect, but in any investigation, the romantic partner is a key figure. His sudden disappearance after questioning? That raised eyebrows. Fear? Guilt? Or something worse?

Authorities reportedly needed a search warrant to comb through the house another indication that their hands were tied in the crucial early hours of the case.

4. The Official Timeline

Date / Time	Event
~August 9, 2017	Melissa reportedly moves into the residence.
August 11, 2017, 5:30 PM	A passerby finds Melissa’s body on the back porch.
August 11, 2017	Police arrive, declare the scene “suspicious.” No gun. No gunshots reported. No ShotSpotter alerts.
Within hours	Autopsy confirms a gunshot wound to the head; death ruled a homicide.
Following days	Boyfriend questioned. Landlord says he hasn’t returned.
2017–Present	No arrests. No suspects. Investigation officially still “active.”

5. Who Was Melissa Manhart?

Melissa was 42 years old. A mother of two. Someone trying to start over.

That’s what her move to Larimer represented maybe a fresh start, maybe a temporary escape. Either way, it ended in the most violent, lonely way possible.

Her mother, Cindy Russo, gave a heartbreaking interview:

“She was a good person. She didn’t deserve to die like this.”

The trauma of losing Melissa and of living with no closure has haunted the family ever since. Russo said they’ve lost sleep, appetite, and peace. And they want answers:
Who killed Melissa? And why?

6. The Cold Case That Froze Fast

Despite questioning people connected to the residence and Melissa’s boyfriend, no arrests have ever been made. Police haven’t even named a person of interest.

Why?

• The crime scene gave them nothing.
• There were no eyewitnesses.
• No obvious motive.
• And possibly no clear suspect in Melissa’s inner circle.

If this was a random act, it was calculated. If it was personal, someone’s hiding it very well.

Years later, Pittsburgh’s official homicide map lists Melissa’s case but provides no update. The silence surrounding her name is haunting.

7. Police Plead for Public Help

From day one, Pittsburgh Police made one thing clear: they needed the public’s help.

“We need the community's partnership to solve this one.” Sonya Toler

That’s the last line of defense in many cold cases someone out there knows something.

If you saw anything, heard anything, or even suspect something:

• Call the Pittsburgh Police Violent Crime Unit: 412-323-7800
• Or Allegheny County Tipline (anonymous): 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477)

Sometimes even the smallest detail is the missing link.

8. Final Thoughts: The Silence After the Sirens

Melissa Manhart’s murder remains a gaping wound in her family’s life and an open question in Pittsburgh’s cold case files.

She was found alone. Killed by a single gunshot. And seven years later, her killer walks free.

Her family deserves answers. Her children deserve peace. And her community deserves resolution.

If you know anything, say something.

Because Melissa Manhart deserves more than a case number she deserves justice.

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