Reward offered for information on missing Whitehall woman

A reward is being offered to anyone with information on the location of a Whitehall woman missing since April who is presumed dead.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Wiesenfeld, 67, has been missing since April 30, when her daughter reported her missing after her mother failed to show up for work.

Police have named Wiesenfeld’s former handyman, Douglas Berry, 47, of McKeesport, the chief suspect in the case.

Berry has not been charged in relation to Wiesenfeld’s disappearance. Police have carried out search warrants at his McKeesport home and two vehicles he allegedly uses. Those search warrants turned up, among other things, apparent blood stains in the back passenger seat of Berry’s Ford F-150, traces of blood on the steering wheel cover and empty cigarette packages. Police also found a 9mm pistol during a May 1 search of his home.

Berry, a convicted felon, cannot legally own a gun, and he has been jailed on that firearm violation since May 2. Court records in that case describe Berry as a “prime suspect in a missing person case, who is presumed dead.”

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Berry had Wiesenfeld’s cellphone and used it to send a text message to her daughter.

Allegheny County Police said they have identified two vehicles that may have been involved in Wiesenfeld’s disappearance. One is a blue/green Ford F150 Quad cab pick-up truck with the rear passenger side window broken out. The second is a red Ford Expedition. The vehicles are believed to have been from the McKeesport area.

Anyone who may have seen a vehicle fitting these descriptions parked, stopped, or driving through any areas where it looked out of place, particularly in the areas of Whitehall, Liberty and Latrobe on April 30 and May 1 is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477).

A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone responsible for Wiesenfeld’s disappearance. Callers may remain anonymous.