No body? Prosecutors say no problem most of the time, despite challenges; cases more common

No body? No problem convicting, 90 percent of time

NEWARK, N.J. — Police in New Jersey believe they have solved one of the coldest cases in the state’s history: the disappearance of five Newark teenagers in 1978.

Now, prosecutors have a difficult task: Prove the teens were murdered even though their bodies were never found.

Murder cases where no body is found were long considered one of the most complex challenges in the legal profession. Advances in technology have made the once-unthinkable prospect more common.

The absence of the key piece of evidence — the corpse — poses unique problems for both prosecutors and defense attorneys. The majority of such cases end in convictions or guilty pleas.