In the early morning hours of June 10th, 1968, a young teacher named Irene Izak left New York and headed to Canada in pursuit of a new job opportunity. Irene was traveling alone in her tan 1965 Volkswagen, heading north on Interstate 81 when she was pulled over for speeding by a New York State trooper. She was given a warning and sent on her way, but about 45 minutes later, the same state trooper who had pulled her over previously, reported finding her lifeless body in a ditch near a heavily wooded area.

Sources:  

• The North Country Murder of Irene Izak: Stained by her Blood. By Dave Shampine
• Writer sues State Police for file in 1968 death of teacher Irene Izak (timesunion.com)
• 11 Jun 1968, 3 - The Tribune at Newspapers.com
• Local History: Local teacher's violent murder still unsolved 50 years later | News | thetimes-tribune.com
• Scranton woman's 43-year-old killing explored | Lifestyles | thetimes-tribune.com
• After 50 Years, Former Binghamton Teacher's Murder is Unsolved (wnbf.com)