Born in Chennai, India, in 1961, Geetha Angara was a trailblazing academic, becoming the first woman to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Loyola College, Chennai. After immigrating to the United States in 1984, she furthered her education by obtaining additional master’s degrees and a doctorate in organic chemistry from New York University.
Angara joined the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) in New Jersey in 1992 and was promoted to senior chemist in 2003. In this role, she led the transition from chlorination to ozone-based water purification, a significant change that reportedly caused friction among some coworkers.
Colleagues noted that Angara, an immigrant woman in a predominantly white, male-dominated workplace, faced resentment from certain staff members. One coworker remarked, “Ninety-eight percent of the plant is white, and not all of them like seeing immigrants do well.”
On the morning of February 8th, 2005, Angara arrived at work around 7:30 a.m. After a 9:45 a.m. breakfast with colleagues, she returned to her duties, carrying a clipboard, beaker, and two-way radio. She was last seen heading toward the basement to collect water samples—a routine task.
Her absence went unnoticed until 9:20 p.m., when a night-shift worker observed her car still in the parking lot. A subsequent search revealed her sandwich uneaten on her desk and her coat still in the closet. Concerned coworkers contacted her family and the police.
In the early hours of February 9th, plant officials shut down operations to search the water tanks. Angara’s radio and clipboard were found in one tank, and her body was discovered in another later that evening. An autopsy revealed bruises on her neck, waist, and elbows, indicating a possible struggle. The cause of death was determined to be drowning, suggesting she was alive when she entered the water.
Investigators faced challenges due to the compromised crime scene. The area had been contaminated by multiple individuals before the body was found, and the chlorinated water had eliminated potential forensic evidence. Despite these obstacles, the case was classified as a homicide.
Given the facility’s strict access controls, suspicion fell on employees present that day. Out of 83 employees, 50 were on-site. Investigators narrowed down potential suspects to eight men, eventually focusing on three. However, no arrests were made, and the case went cold.
Some experts proposed that Angara’s death might have been accidental. Scottish forensic pathologist Derrick Pounder suggested that cold-water drowning could produce neck bruising similar to strangulation. Former chief homicide detective James Wood later theorized that an unsecured floor panel might have led to Angara’s fall into the tank, with someone hastily replacing the panel afterward to avoid blame. However, Angara’s family disputed this, citing her cautious nature and the improbability of not noticing an open panel.
In 2007, Angara’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the PVWC, alleging negligence and a history of safety violations. The case was ordered into mediation after two years. Despite multiple investigations and reviews, including one by the state Attorney General’s office, no new leads emerged. As of 2025, the case remains unresolved.
Crime Immemorial 