Nearly 58 years later, police solve cold case murder of 9-year-old Pennsylvania girl The men responsible for the killings were identified as Billy Sunday Birt, Bobby Gene Gaddis, Charles David. Over 30 years after her murder, researchers and investigators identified El Dorado Jane Doe in May 2022. If you've ever thought that you may make a good homicide investigator, there is one important qualification (other than having an exceptionally strong stomach) that you should know about. Rita Curran was violently murdered in her Vermont apartment in 1971 and the case remained a mystery for decades. A podcast dedicated to highlighting cold cases that have been solved and closed. The Burlington Police Department reactivated the case in 2019 when Lt. Detective Commander Jim Trieb put his whole team of detectives on the case. On April 25, she left her Myrtle Beach hotel to visit a friend staying at another hotel. They just wanted justice. In a statement announcing the closure of the investigation, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office stated its confidence that "the evidence in this case would support a conviction of Drummond for the murder of Joette Smith.". (AP Photo/Seth Wenig). Greg Harder of the Elkhart County Police noticed a possible piece of DNA evidence that was missed. Over 4,000 pages of information have been compiled in this case over the years. The extraordinary violence and cruelty of these murders demonstrates the extreme danger he presents to society, the court documents said. These companies then send back information on their clients ethnic heritage, genetic health risks and family tree as well as a raw data file of their DNA. Before the judge overturned the conviction, prosecutors in Baltimore had asked for a new trial the previous week. The suspects profile was created and uploaded into commercial genealogy sites that allow law enforcement agencies to participate, police said. Discovery Company. NILES, Mich. - A Michigan cold case that dates back to 1987 was solved earlier this year, and Western Michigan University students . Ten years later, investigators opened Dahns case again, looking for new leads and use of new technology. [10], 1980s cold case murders solved, O.C. In addition to providing closure for the families and friends of the victims, every closed cold case serves another important purpose: Letting those who commit murder know that homicide investigators are the Terminators of law enforcement, and that (to paraphrase Kyle Reese) they will not stop EVER! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Like so many other cold cases, the eventual identification of the killer hinged on one thing: The collection of DNA evidence at the scene of the murder, and its careful preservation. Four-year-old Joseph Augustus Zarellis remains were discovered inside a box and abandoned in Philadelphias Fox Chase neighborhood Feb. 25, 1957. The window screen was cut out of her bedroom window, but nothing was stolen, and investigators suspected the screen had been cut after the murder to make the window look like an entry point. If a possible match is found, genealogists can build out family trees to help police find potential suspects. The 76- and 73-year-olds were found stabbed to death in their home, which showed no signs of forced entry. Her death was later ruled a homicide, though a cause was not determined. The serial murderer known as the "Torso Killer" admitted to killing a 23-year-old woman outside a Long Island shopping mall in 1968 and four other women decades ago. Scientists were able to use the unknown DNA to find potential matches in public databases and create a reverse family tree. This method eventually led to a man named Kenneth Gould, who unfortunately passed away in 2007. Missing Melissa Highsmith's mother poses next to a composite sketch of her daughter's suspected kidnapper in a Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper article. A DNA sample taken at the time of that arrest was eventually used to connect him to the Lloyd and Cuevas slayings. But in a Tuesday news conference, the Burlington Police Department announced that Curran's case was solved and the man responsible for the 24-year-old's murder, William DeRoos, died years ago. Now they're using DNA to help cops crack cold cases. officials say, The Case of Patricia and Duane (Solved after 65 years) The Oldest Case Solved by Genetic Genealogy, Police arrest New York man in Vermont cold case killings, Thankful She Wasnt Forgotten, Family Of Murder Victim Janet Love Gets Closure 35 Years Later, 30 Year Old Cold Case Finally Solved | Ep. Traditionally, investigators will take DNA from a crime scene and compare it to a suspects DNA or they enter the crime scene DNA into a national database, also known as CODIS, to see if theres a match with a known criminal offender. After he'd moved to Texas, and his letters had stopped coming, his mother says she was contacted by a member of the organization about returning his car. In an interview with the suspect in a California prison, Jones confirmed he lived near Renton from 1994-1995 but denied ever meeting or knowing Falcon-Dewey, the document said. Throughout the years, more than 230 members of the Pennsylvania State Police worked on the case to no avail. After years of waiting for justice, she was relieved investigators finally had named her mothers killer. I worked the streets.". CNNs Jessica Prater contributed to this report. There was little evidence left at the scene, and they went unidentified until late 2021, when genealogical researchers tracked down the John Doe's sister. All rights reserved. Cold case solved 34 years later when police trace DNA evidence from licked envelope | CNN Her slaying went unsolved for 34 years. Well, here we are in 2022, and that little piece of evidence that they collected was exactly what we needed.. Over 230 department personnel had a hand in the investigation over the years, without including civilians in the crime lab, Baron added. Ted Bundy, Jack the Ripperand DNA: New techsolvingmurders. In order to find another match to Mr. On Aug. 23, 1971, the woman picked up Melissa from the mothers apartment, where a roommate had been watching the child while her mom was at work. Joined by current and retired detectives and officials who worked the case, along with Chiverellas siblings, Brutosky detailed how police identified James Paul Forte, who died in 1980, as Chiverellas murderer. Investigators said the biggest breakthrough in the case happened this year after they obtained a new sample of Grims DNA to compare with the older evidence. More evidence, including Curran's clothes, was sent to a lab in Florida in 2022 where they performed new DNA-extracting techniques. The 25-year-old was stabbed over 40 times with her infant son in the room. Beyer said he was blown away when he heard how his mothers case had finally been solved. Using DNA from living relatives, the little girl was finally identified as Sharon Lee Gallegos, a 4-year-old who was abducted from her grandmother's home in Alamagordo, New Mexico 500 miles from where her body had been discovered in July 1960. 2 min; DEC 14, 2022; 3 YEAR OLD COLD CASE SOLVED In April of that year, their 17-year-old daughter Brittanee took off for spring break, without her parents' permission, to Myrtle Beach, Florida, and never came home (via Democrat & Chronicle). She was strangled in 1988. At the time of their deaths, Dean and Tina had a baby daughter, Holly, who was less than a year old. appreciated. Family members who knew Dahn described her as a goofy, funny person who loved to draw qualities Beyer said, he too, has within him. (Nassau County District Attorney's Office). Please keep after. She also plans to remarry her current husband so her father can walk her down the aisle. The DNA from the saliva matched what was found on Kanes clothing, authorities said this week. (The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). The technique is used to create family trees based on genetic similarities to hopefully lead back to the owner of the unknown sample. when he met his second wife, Sarah Hepting. Using court records, news reports, and good old-fashioned police work, investigators then determined that one of those people 68-year-old David Sinopoli lived in the same apartment complex as Biechler in 1975. Dennis Perry, center, standing beside wife Brenda Perry gets emotional while thanking the team from the Georgia Innocence Project after they worked to get his release after 20 years behind bars, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Nicholls, Ga. He then resurfaced in San Francisco in 1974 when he met his second wife, Sarah Hepting. She was a great mother.. But, after 52 years, Curran's family finally has closure. It didn't take long - in June of 2022, Holly was found alive, living in Oklahoma, after she'd been adopted as an infant. Dahns 2-year-old was wandering around the apartment complex. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, A man named Michael Louise, who was the Peacocks son-in-law, was identified as a suspect a few weeks later. 3K Followers. His remains were identified 47 years later. Investigators were surprised when Dean's sister, after learning of her brother's death, asked, Where's the baby?. Hall's daughter, happy to finally have closure, had a message for those facing the unsolved murder of a loved one: "Please don't give up. The family of Melissa Highsmith provided this photo of her as a baby. A warrant was issued to obtain Branchs DNA upon his autopsy; the DNA obtained from Branchs remains was confirmed to be a match to the DNA on Baggens body.[6]. In 1975, long before DNA evidence would become a factor in criminal justice, 19-year-old Lindy Sue Biechler was brutally stabbed to death inside her home. The case went cold. Information about the babysitter has not been released, although Melissa said she contacted the woman who raised her, who admitted that she was the missing child. Reyes knows shell never get the answers. Police checked the database monthly against all other criminals that had DNA in the system, said Brutosky. 2. 2023 Cable News Network. Police theorized that the killing may have been part of a pattern of attempted child abductions going on at the time, and over the years following, they investigated a slew of potential suspects, even resorting to the not-so-solid technique of hypnotizing subjects in their attempts to elicit a confession. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images. 5 Decades-Old Cold Cases Finally Solved Twenty-three-year-old Tonya McKinley had gone to Darryl's Bar & Grille in Pensacola, Florida, to celebrate the upcoming new year of 1985 but never returned home to her 18-month-old son. Mark Baron. 2023 Cable News Network. While not all breaks have led to arrests just yet, police have been able to use modern DNA forensics technology and genetic genealogy to link evidence from crime scenes to a certain person or group. FOUND: MELISSA HIGHSMITH'S FAMILY 'OVERJOYED' AFTER BEING REUNITED WITH SISTER ABDUCTED IN 1971. Woman found dead in 1971 identified 52 years later after community fundraiser for DNA testing, How race affects social media efforts to find missing kids, hours of research through genealogical records and public records. It was obtained legally through a search warrant, Trate said. Lee had disappeared and her body was found several weeks later, strangled. Did you encounter any technical issues? The police don't give up.". DNA testing at home in Japan is starting to gain traction as more people age and seek answers about their risks for diseases. Both were signed "Jane Doe," and despite their best efforts, police were unable to identify the woman who would become known as the "Christmas tree lady" (via DC News Now). ' It turned out that during her life, the young woman had used a number of aliases, including Kelly Carr, Sharon Wiley, Cheryl Wick, and Mercedes. A year later, Robertson moved to Indiana and lived there until he died at age 39, in a house fire on November 25, 1999, investigators said. Reyes said one of her fondest childhood memories was taking walks with her mother and seeing her suddenly dance to random music playing in stores as they passed. part one: https://youtu.be/djTovLJF. In 1978, he was arrested for recklessly endangering and harassment, police said. Raymond Moody was sentenced to life in prison Oct. 19 for the 2009 rape and murder of 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Georgetown County Sheriff's Office/Associated Press). 1980s cold case murders solved, O.C. 00:00 Intro00:18 Nacole Smith03:55 Jessica Gutierrez 05:35 Patricia Cavallaro07:05 Susan Wint. Thanks to DNA and genealogy tracking, authorities announced Thursday, they have solved her case. Investigators determined Drexel was strangled. One of the few people with keys to the apartment was Knutson's then 18-year-old roommate, Nichole Rice, who quickly fell under suspicion. Reyes was 9 when her mother was killed, and said she thinks about her every day. Two other possible suspects, who remain unnamed, were not properly ruled out nor disclosed to the defense, Mosby said. 'Help me find my children': How race affects social media efforts to find missing kids. (The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). No one deserves what happened to her.. In 1975, long before DNA evidence would become a factor in criminal justice, 19-year-old Lindy Sue Biechler was brutally stabbed to death inside her home. Cold Cases We Were Surprised And Relieved To See Finally Solved Rima Pundir February 23, 2022 2.9k votes 606 voters 31.4k views List Rules Vote up all the cold cases that were closed in unexpected ways. Tamika Reyes was only nine years old when her mother, 26-year-old Anna Kane, was found strangled and left in the woods outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1988. All Rights Reserved. When 53-year-old John Stagner was beaten to death in his bed in Orlando, Florida, in 1992, police honed in on a suspect almost immediately, according to Fox 35 Orlando: Ronald Cates, a friend of Stagner's who happened to be a drug addict. Moody confessed and led investigators to Brittanee's remains, but his belated cooperation did nothing to keep the entire book from getting thrown at him in court. The serial murderer known as the "Torso Killer" admitted to killing a 23-year-old woman outside a Long Island shopping mall in 1968 and four other women decades ago. Las Vegas police use DNA testing and genealogical research to solve 42-year-old homicide of teen girl, Its unfortunate my nephew never had the chance to know his mom, Dahn-Minter said during a police news conference. The Ontelaunee Trail in Perry Township, where Kane's body was found, as seen in October 1988. A number of true crime updates came to light in 2022, with many cold cases solved through forensic genetic genealogy. Most recently, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to another 25 years to life in prison for the rape and violent murder of Diane Cusick. After 1 p.m., her body was discovered in coal refuse pit. Forte you would need to search over 4 million planet earths.. In 2007, Anita Knutson was a student attending Minot State University in North Dakota. (Provided by family to Fox News Digital), "A woman answered the ad and agreed to meet her at the restaurant where she worked, but she never showed up," the NCMEC said. Cusicks parents reported her missing after the 23-year-old woman never returned home from a trip to the Green Acres Mall. DNA had been found on Smiths clothing at the time of her murder, but it was only recently that new advances in technology allowed the sample to be tested and matched. Cottingham, now 73, has said he has killed as many as 100 people in New Jersey and New York and is already spending life in prison for the 1960 murders of several females. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much In 2019, with help from Parabon Nano-Labs, the DNA profile was uploaded to GED Match, a genealogical database. Elkhart County, Indiana, is where, in May 2002, Robert Reed was found robbed and murdered inside his residence. "Boy in the Box" identified as 4-year-old Joseph Augustus Zarelli. After DNA and dental records confirmed the remains were Drexel's, police soon arrested 62-year-old Raymond Moody for her kidnapping and murder. Most of us love a good mystery - as long as it's in a book or a movie, and does not remain unsolved. A triple homicide committed 50 years ago has been solved after the Watauga County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina received information revealed by a Georgia inmate during a visit . 2023 Cable News Network. The cases of Sophie Sergie and Marise Ann Chiverella went unsolved for decades, but thanks to DNA a. (Jason Lee/The Sun News via AP). Recent groundbreaking technology has revolutionized the way law enforcement investigates cold cases and has led to breaks in dozens of previously unsolved cases in 2022 alone. Known only as Kelly to protect her family's privacy, the woman's identity was finally revealed through DNA testing. While initial tests done previously on the blood were inconclusive, advances in DNA testing allowed for the blood to be positively identified as belonging to George Peacock. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A Danby, Vermont couple, George and Catherine Peacock, were murdered in September 1989. Using genealogy techniques, detectives discovered that the murderer had ancestral origins in the small Italian town of Gasperina, and that only a couple thousand people with such ties lived in the area at the time of the killing. Chiverella went unsolved for 34 years the unknown DNA to help cops cold. Back to 1987 was solved earlier this year, and Western Michigan students. Found robbed and murdered inside his residence niles, Mich. - a Michigan cold case dates!, authorities announced Thursday, they have solved her case ruled a homicide, though a cause was determined... Ruled a homicide, though a cause was not determined of that was... 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