Buried Secrets: How a Forensic Anthropologist Cracked the Chilling Murder of Sherry Leighty
In 1999, 22-year-old Sherry Leighty vanished without a trace, leaving behind three young children and a family desperate for answers. For nearly 15 years, her disappearance remained a haunting mystery—until a chilling phone call cracked the case wide open.
In 2013, Sherry’s ex-husband, Aaron Leighty, was on the phone with his father, Kenneth Leighty, when the elder man made a shocking confession. He had killed his daughter-in-law, claiming it was an accident. Soon after, authorities uncovered Sherry’s remains in a desolate patch of land in Warriors Mark Township, Pennsylvania—buried on Kenneth Leighty’s property.
Despite his insistence that the killing was unintentional, Kenneth struck a plea deal, leading investigators to his gruesome secret in exchange for a reduced charge of third-degree murder. He was sentenced to 7 to 14 years in prison in 2014 and was denied parole for the second time in 2021.
But how did authorities finally locate Sherry’s body after so many years? The answer lies in forensic science and the work of Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, a forensic anthropologist who played a pivotal role in unraveling this cold case.
The Break in the Case
When the Huntingdon County district attorney received a tip about a possible burial site linked to Sherry’s disappearance, they called in Dr. Dirkmaat for assistance. He and his team, along with a cadaver dog, scoured a property near a hunting cabin where family members had once noticed an unsettling smell. But the first search turned up nothing. It seemed the case had hit another dead end.
Two weeks later, everything changed. Kenneth Leighty, under police pressure, confessed again—this time leading investigators to a different location. With a team of forensic experts, Dr. Dirkmaat set out to find the truth buried beneath the soil.
The Hunt for Sherry’s Remains
Kenneth initially pointed authorities to a grove of trees where he claimed to have buried Sherry. But the scientists knew better. Root systems in that area made it nearly impossible to dig a deep enough grave. When their excavation revealed no evidence, tension ran high. Investigators, determined to hold Kenneth accountable, brought him back to the scene.
In a dramatic turn, Dr. Dirkmaat became the unlikely interrogator. Using a calm but methodical approach, he pressed Kenneth for details. Slowly, the older man recalled seeing a rock wall when he disposed of the body. That single detail led the team in a new direction—one that would finally yield results.
The Chilling Discovery
Dr. Dirkmaat and his team meticulously dug small test pits every three feet along the rock wall, determined to find the burial site. After more than 25 test digs, a state trooper hit what he initially thought was an old water pipe. But there was no plumbing in this remote area.
Dr. Dirkmaat took a closer look. What they had unearthed was no pipe—it was human bone.
With careful precision, they continued excavating. Sherry’s tibia, fibula, and foot bones were uncovered, eerily intact despite years underground. The positioning of her remains told a grim story—she had not been placed in a traditional grave but hastily stashed in a makeshift burial site. The evidence suggested her body had been moved from another location, likely after decomposition had begun.
The Final Clues
Back in the lab, forensic experts pieced together Sherry’s final moments. A biological profile confirmed the remains belonged to a young white female. Dental records and DNA testing provided conclusive proof—it was Sherry Leighty.
Then came the most damning discovery: signs of blunt force trauma to the skull. Though Kenneth Leighty had long claimed the killing was accidental, forensic evidence suggested otherwise. Sherry had suffered a violent, fatal attack.
Justice and Unanswered Questions
Kenneth Leighty’s confession and the forensic evidence sealed his fate, leading to his conviction. Yet, some questions linger. What really happened the night Sherry died? Why did Kenneth keep this secret for over a decade? And what compelled him to finally confess?
Though Kenneth remains behind bars, Sherry’s family finally has some measure of closure—knowing that, after years of searching, the truth was finally unearthed.
This case serves as a powerful reminder: science never forgets. No matter how deeply a secret is buried, forensic experts like Dr. Dirkmaat are there to dig up the truth—one bone at a time.
