The person at the center of this case
Port Authority Police Officer (assault victim); Donna Joan Borup (fugitive)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
44 years waiting · since 1981
DONNA JOAN BORUP
Justice for Port Authority Police Officer (assault victim); Donna Joan Borup (fugitive) — the trail went cold in 1981, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Where has Borup been hiding for over 40 years? What resources or network has sustained her fugitive status?
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location
Lead #2Borup has known ties to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Canada—has she remained in one of these regions or fled internationally?
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person
Lead #3Borup is described as having a photographic memory and being highly intelligent—could she have assumed a false identity or changed her appearance?
Donna Joan Borup is wanted for her alleged role in a violent anti-apartheid demonstration at JFK International Airport on September 26, 1981, where she allegedly threw a caustic substance into a Port Authority Police Officer's eyes, causing partial blindness. After being arrested and released on bail, Borup failed to appear for trial in May 1982 and has been a fugitive for over four decades. Despite ties to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Canada, her whereabouts remain unknown, and investigators seek information from anyone who may have encountered her.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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contact
Lead #4Who among her associates in the May 19th Communist Organization might have knowledge of her current whereabouts or have provided assistance?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - Riot, Assault on a Police Officer Caution: Donna Joan Borup is wanted for her alleged participation in a violent anti-apartheid demonstration at JFK International Airport in Queens, New York, on September 26, 1981. During the riot, Borup allegedly tossed a caustic substance into the eyes of a Port Authority Police Officer, leaving him partially blind.
At the time, Borup was a member of the May 19th Communist Organization, a Marxist-Leninist organization which advocated the armed revolution and violent overthrow of the United States Government. Borup, along with some accomplices, was arrested and released on bail pending trial in May of 1982.
On May 20, 1982, an arrest warrant was issued for Borup after she failed to appear for her trial on a Queens County indictment which charged her with riot in the first degree and assault in the first degree. On September 14, 1982, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Borup in the Eastern District of New York and she was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Remarks: Borup has ties to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Canada. Borup is thought to have a photographic memory and is highly intelligent.
Timeline of Events
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1981-09-26
Anti-apartheid demonstration and assault
Donna Joan Borup allegedly threw caustic substance into Port Authority Police Officer's eyes during violent riot at JFK International Airport, causing partial blindness.
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1982-05
Arrest and bail release
Borup was arrested and released on bail pending trial on Queens County indictment for riot in the first degree and assault in the first degree.
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1982-05-20
Failure to appear warrant
Arrest warrant issued for Borup after she failed to appear for trial.
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1982-09-14
Federal warrant issued
Federal arrest warrant issued in Eastern District of New York for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 26, 1981
Last Updated:May 12, 2026
Up to $100,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:September 26, 1981
Last Updated:May 12, 2026
Up to $100,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case