University of Pennsylvania graduate student's 1980 homicide remains unsolved

Could forensic testing of the murder weapon help identify Julie Revsin's killer 46 years later?

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:39pm

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In 1980, 25-year-old Julie Revsin, a master's candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, was found dead in her off-campus apartment. The murder weapon, a butcher knife, was found at the scene, but the case went cold. Now, 46 years later, a reporter's renewed interest in the case has prompted a review by Philadelphia police to determine if modern forensic testing could uncover new leads.

Why it matters

Julie Revsin's unsolved murder has haunted her family and friends for decades. The brutal nature of the crime and the lack of closure have left a lasting impact on the University of Pennsylvania community. This case highlights the challenges of cold cases and the importance of using modern forensic techniques to potentially identify killers, even decades later.

The details

On March 21, 1980, Julie Revsin's boyfriend, Thomas Wheelock, found her dead on the floor of their shared apartment. The medical examiner determined that she had bled to death from multiple stab wounds to her neck and arms. The murder weapon, a butcher knife, was found at the scene, but there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle. Investigators initially suspected Wheelock, but he had an alibi. The case went cold, and despite occasional follow-ups from Wheelock, the Philadelphia Police Department never identified a suspect.

  • On March 21, 1980, Julie Revsin was found dead in her apartment.
  • In the months before her death, Wheelock found all the knives in their apartment spread out on the floor, which he found unsettling.
  • In 2013, the detective originally assigned to the case, Igor Alfimow, passed away.
  • In 2025, a reporter named Matthew Algeo stumbled upon an archived newspaper article about the case and launched a renewed effort to bring attention to it.
  • In 2026, the Philadelphia Police Department confirmed they are reviewing the case file to determine if modern forensic testing could uncover new leads.

The players

Julie Revsin

A 25-year-old master's candidate at the University of Pennsylvania who was found murdered in her off-campus apartment in 1980.

Thomas Wheelock

Julie Revsin's boyfriend at the time of her murder, who found her body and was initially suspected by police but had an alibi.

Igor Alfimow

The Philadelphia homicide detective who was originally assigned to the Julie Revsin case and remained in contact with Wheelock in the months after her death.

Matthew Algeo

A reporter who stumbled upon an archived newspaper article about Julie Revsin's case and launched a renewed effort to bring attention to it.

Philadelphia Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated Julie Revsin's murder in 1980 and is now reviewing the case file to determine if modern forensic testing could uncover new leads.

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What they’re saying

“She was very intelligent, but she was very naive. She trusted a lot of people, and some of the stories she told me, I could not believe. She liked people and trusted everybody.”

— Ethan Revsin, Julie Revsin's brother

“The murder was so brutal. We read about it, and we were, needless to say, very, very rattled. All of us, everyone I knew, we were scared to death.”

— Carol Tracy, Former executive director at the Women's Law Project, working at the Penn Women's Center at the time

“A lot of anger, a lot of anxiety. I cared for Julie a lot. She was such a bright, good person.”

— Thomas Wheelock

What’s next

The Philadelphia Police Department is reviewing Julie Revsin's case file to determine if modern forensic testing could uncover new leads in the 46-year-old unsolved murder.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the lasting impact of unsolved murders and the importance of using modern investigative techniques to potentially identify killers, even decades later. The renewed interest in Julie Revsin's case could finally provide her family and friends with the closure they have sought for over four decades.