NJ Police Seek Tips in 1978 Deal Family Murders
The New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit is asking for public assistance to solve the 1978 slayings of the Deal family in Folsom.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Violence
The New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit has reopened an investigation into the 1978 murders of Gary, Joan, and Jason Deal. Detectives are seeking new information regarding the deaths of the family, whose bodies were found in their Folsom home.
Why it matters
Investigators hope that individuals who lived or worked in the area decades ago may now be willing to provide information they previously withheld. The unit is leveraging modern DNA and ballistic testing to finally resolve this 48-year-old case.
Detectives are actively analyzing crime scene evidence through modern DNA and ballistic testing. Citizens are encouraged to contact the unit via 1-833-4NJ-Cold or at coldcase@njsp.gov.
The players
New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit
This division of the state police force is dedicated to re-examining unsolved homicides and missing persons cases across New Jersey.
Gary Deal
He was a 26-year-old victim who resided in Folsom, New Jersey, at the time of the 1978 incident.
Joan Deal
She was a 26-year-old victim killed alongside her husband and young child.
Jason Deal
He was a three-year-old child and the youngest victim in the 1978 homicide case.
The details
Gary Deal, 26, Joan Deal, 26, and their three-year-old son Jason were found murdered inside a home on Mays Landing Road in Atlantic County. Investigators noted that all three victims had their throats cut, while the parents also sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Timeline
October 30, 1978: The Deal family was murdered in their Folsom home.
October 30, 2026: The New Jersey State Police issued a formal request for public assistance.
Legal Context
The investigation into the 1978 Deal family murders follows a pattern set by other cold cases where advancing forensic technology allows for potential breakthroughs decades later. This case represents a broader trend of law enforcement agencies re-evaluating legacy homicides.
Residents of Atlantic County who lived or worked in Folsom during 1978 are urged to contact authorities with any information. The ongoing investigation may require further cooperation from long-term community members to identify the perpetrator.
The takeaway
Cold cases often reach a resolution when witness allegiances change or new forensic tools are applied to preserved evidence. Authorities rely on community memory to fill in the gaps for crimes that occurred decades ago.
Further reading
For more information on similar cases, visit the New Jersey Violence section.
