When Diane Lynn Dahn missed her shift at the San Diego Transit Corporation on May 2, 1988, a coworker went to her apartment to check on her. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. DNA testing of Curran's housecoat at the lab in Florida further confirmed that DeRoos had committed the crime. According to WRDW News, the case is believed to be the first time that both a murder victim and perpetrator were identified using DNA technology in the same case. In 1988, state authorities in Georgia were presented with a crime that would seem nearly impossible to solve: The killing of 19-year-old Stacey Chahorski, whose body was found alongside a highway near the state's border with Alabama. 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 . Melissa said she had a troubled childhood: "I didn't feel loved as a child. You see, homicide cases as you likely realize from the six thousand true-crime documentaries which set you on this career path in the first place can often take a very long time to resolve. But that doesnt mean there wasnt some connection that we havent figured out yet, Womer said. And what went through his mind when he learned she had a family that loved her? The case was re-investigated by Yolanda McClary, a genealogy research and crime scene investigator, in 2018, and four years of searching finally led to Kelly's true identity being uncovered. The most incriminating evidence: a cigarette butt found next to Curran's body that contained DNA evidence. 7.6K 402K views 6 months ago In this video, we will talk about decades-old cold cases that were solved in 2022. Over the next 14 years, authorities diligently ruled out the presence of any DNA not matching Strutner's in the 1980 evidence and finally, in 2022, he was named as Dukat's murderer. Also known as investigative genetic genealogy, this relatively new practice involves finding criminals via companies that collect consumer DNA samples for genealogy purposes. Syed was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 but has maintained his innocence all along. 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. Dukat was only 8 years old, grabbed by a stranger and killed with a 20-pound rock in a shallow stream on her short walk home from school, according to the Columbus Dispatch. In 2019, with help from Parabon Nano-Labs, the DNA profile was uploaded to GED Match, a genealogical database. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. The case was revived in 2021 when Sgt. Why did he kill a young woman who was just trying to take care of her children? REMAINS OF NY TEEN BRITTANEE DREXEL FOUND 13 YEARS AFTER GOING MISSING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SUSPECT CHARGED, Her mother, Dawn, called the discovery of Brittanees remains "the beginning of a new chapter. Melissa's sister, Sharon Highsmith, wrote on Facebook: Our finding Melissa was purely because of DNA, not because of any police/FBI involvement, podcast involvement, or even our familys own private investigations or speculations. 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. Cates had developed a habit of borrowing and pawning power tools from Stagner, a city maintenance worker, in order to support this habit; even Cates' own family members had long suspected his involvement in the killing, but police were never able to gather enough evidence to support a probable cause warrant for his arrest. However, this was the '80s, and it would take a while for the science of genetic genealogy to help the cops pin down their suspect. It was the rare case in which a fleeting moment of conscience, and not new technology, was the key to unraveling a three-decade-old crime. In April 1982, U.S.. The team has. Over 65 years after a young child was found severely beaten to death, wrapped in a blanket and left in a wooded area of Philadelphia, the little one, nicknamed the "Boy in the Box," was identified earlier this month. 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. The most incriminating evidence was a cigarette butt found next to Curran's body. But, after 52 years, Curran's family finally has closure. In May 1987, 23-year-old Shannon Lloyd of Orange County, California, was murdered in her apartment. Genetic genealogys effectiveness in cold cases depends on the quality of crime scene DNA and whether it has degraded, State Police Trooper Daniel Womer said at a news conference last week. In recent years this method has helped solve some of the nations most high-profile cold cases, including the one of the notorious Golden State Killer. Did you encounter any technical issues? Hepting said in an interview with Burlington police that DeRoos once stabbed a woman in front of Hepting, and later said he thought he stabbed Hepting. 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. The real Melissa Highsmith beside a colorized photo illustration of what she was believed to look like from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Physical evidence was able to close the deal in 2022. (The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Published Nadine Madger was a Willoughby, Ohio, woman who was found murdered in January 1980. She described Dahn as an amazing person who played the violin and guitar. Investigators determined she was sexually assaulted, murdered and left in the hole with all her belongings. The Hazelton, Pennsylvania, girl was found later the same afternoon, raped and strangled. "I am mourning my beautiful daughter Brittanee as I have for the past 13 years. Discovery Company. Updated 00:22 Sophie Sergie04:45 Marise Chiverella07:56 Roxanne Leig. The detectives careful preservation of DNA evidence in 1988 provided a solid foundation for todays investigators to examine with new technology, Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Before the judge overturned the conviction, prosecutors in Baltimore had asked for a new trial the previous week. The search for Melissa Highsmith had a rare happy ending. Not long after finding Dean and Tina's identities, investigators began to search for Holly. Proud "Mommy" to Crocker and Phi Phi. The crime scene outside of the apartment complex where both Robertson and Dahn lived on May 2, 1988. She was stabbed 19 times, and prosecutors say evidence at the scene suggested a sexual motive. Unfortunately, no substantial leads were obtained in the case, and Beichlers murder went cold. She was spending the summer working as a maid at a local motel and taking graduate courses at the University of Vermont. She also plans to remarry her current husband so her father can walk her down the aisle. Case Breakers calls for police to conduct a DNA test to verify their findings; Fox News' Eric Shawn has the details. 2. Known only as Kelly to protect her family's privacy, the woman's identity was finally revealed through DNA testing. 2023 Cable News Network. these two cold cases were finally solved after decades in 2022, thanks to genetic genealogy and witnesses coming forward. ", "This is truly a mothers worst nightmare," she said. Acting on the suspicions of her family in Mexico, authorities examined trace DNA from the ropes used to bind her, comparing it with DNA given by the family of Edward Geddes (pictured), Lina's husband, who had died by suicide in 2001. Surveillance footage showed Drexel leaving her friend's hotel that night, but never returning to her own. Well, here we are in 2022, and that little piece of evidence that they collected was exactly what we needed.. Despite his confession, Kinlaw couldn't be charged with the murder until positive identification of his victim was made and with that accomplished, a first-degree murder charge was filed against him in July 2022. Richard Cottingham and victim Diane Cusick. The Fort Worth Police Department said it plans to investigate the disappearance, but the statute of limitations on pursuing criminal charges in the kidnapping has passed. 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. Today we take a look at 20 Cold Cases Solved In 2022. 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. Mr. Smith died by suicide in 1999.[1]. Published Her killer, Eric Drummond, was a customer at her restaurant, and it's likely due to the lack of an obvious connection with Smith that it took police five years to even identify him as a suspect. In 2007, Anita Knutson was a student attending Minot State University in North Dakota. 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. "I was happy to finally put a face behind the monster who took her from us," she said, "[but] upset that he will never be able to face consequences.". Greg Harder of the Elkhart County Police noticed a possible piece of DNA evidence that was missed. (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. When they did, the now-elderly killer presumably weary from looking over his shoulder for 45 years broke down and confessed to the crime. CNN . Although police had fingerprints and photographs of Kelly, they believed that they had done all DNA testing possible in 2004. Many questions still remain about the case, but Holly has reportedly been in contact with her newfound family members. 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). Moody had been a suspect since 2012, but it was not immediately made public what evidence led to his arrest. The 25-year-old was stabbed over 40 times with her infant son in the room. To date, this cold case is one of the oldest to be recently solved with DNA evidence.[2]. In order to find another match to Mr. Cold case team says it's ID'd Zodiac Killer. 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. Market data provided by Factset. All rights reserved. Cold case murder that inspired 'Twin Peaks' solved 100 years later: Book By Caroline Howe January 1, 2022 7:25am Updated After five years of research, a pair of "Twin Peaks" fans claim they. Richard Cottingham, nicknamed the "Torso Killer" or "Times Square killer," allegedly admitted in December to killing five women on Long Island, New York, in the late 60s, early 70s. "We came into this like we come into all cases," AWP diver Doug Bishop explained. I traveled the world as a photographer. We share these cases to highlight their resolution and bring closure to the victims and the community . The family of Melissa Highsmith provided this photo of her as a baby. That changed in 2022 when those family members who had long lived in fear of Cates and his abusive, violent tendencies came forward to do a fresh round of interviews with police. A local newspaper, the Reading Eagle, ran a front-page story seeking information on Kanes death. State police worked tirelessly over the years but were unable to identify her killer until now. Did you encounter any technical issues? The more than four decades old homicide case of Wilkowitz has finally been solved and the identity of the killer is now known, Suffolk . Most cold cases do not get solved, so it is still fairly a spectacular occurrence when one is. Now that they have identified Grims DNA, police will review other open cold cases to see if he was involved, Womer said. Antoinette Parks, Gwendolyn Harris and Madeleine Furey-Livaudais. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. In 2008, police were alerted to a potential match with the recently-obtained DNA profile of Brent Strutner, a local who had died by suicide in 1984 and who was among the original batch of suspects. ". According to Garden Grove Deputy Police Chief Amir Al Farra, she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. A gruesome double homicide opened the year of 1956 in Great Falls, Montana. It may take years or even decades, but we continually seek justice for victims and their families.". This would prove to be an incorrect guess, and as there was a dearth of reported missing child cases involving children of that age, police hit a dead end in the case of the girl who would become known to locals as "Little Miss Nobody" (via CBS News). Eventually, direct relatives of Robertson gave their DNA samples and confirmed his identification and matched the hair strand that was found in Dahns hands. Two other possible suspects, who remain unnamed, were not properly ruled out nor disclosed to the defense, Mosby said. The Best New Cooking & Food Shows of 2022, 2022 Movie Moments That Punched Us in the Gut, True Crime Cold Cases That Had Updates In 2022. I went to the streets. ", PHILADELPHIA 'BOY IN THE BOX' IDENTIFIED 65 YEARS AFTER BODY FOUND BEATEN, WRAPPED IN BLANKET. Former Sen. Patrick Leahy,who was county prosecutor at the time of the murder, said he saw many gruesome crimes during his time as prosecutor but Rita Curran's family stayed in this thoughts for years after. For 34 years, Reyes, along with her two brothers and their grandmother, have wondered who killed Kane. The murder caused ripples of fear in a time when many Burlingtonresidents left front doors unlocked, and the killer remained a mystery for decades, despite the police looking into hundreds of tips. He spent two decades in prison for church murders. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Reyes still has so many questions shed ask Grim if he was still alive. Drexel was last seen on April 25, 2009, while on a spring break trip with friends in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thats where genetic genealogy came in. Did you encounter any technical issues? Mark Baron. Legal Statement. I worked the streets.". The lack of closure has added to the distress of losing their mother, she said. The case was revived in 2020 with new DNA technology and the help of Eric Schubert, an expert in genetic genealogy. If a possible match is found, genealogists can build out family trees to help police find potential suspects. It did. A technician prepares a test solution for processing DNA samples at a Genesis Healthcare Co. laboratory in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. As it happened, around this same time, Cates was in the hospital in North Carolina, and as Florida detectives were shoring up their case, Cates blurted out to a nurse that he had killed someone in Florida decades prior. No one knew what had become of her. Although her mother had a dark past that included drug use and prostitution, she was trying to turn her life around, Reyes said. A photo of 20-year old Eve Wilkowitz from Project: Cold Case. They declined to elaborate how they obtained his DNA when hes been dead for four years. Like how you go from what little information you have to building a case like that was truly impressive, he said. The circumstances around what led up to her death remain a mystery, 34 years later -- but DNA evidence points to her killer. REMAINS OF LITTLE MISS NOBODY IDD AS NEW MEXICO GIRL, 4, ABDUCTED IN 1960 AND FOUND IN ARIZONA DESERT. All Rights Reserved. But it wasn't until 2022 that, you guessed it, advances in DNA technology finally allowed authorities to use an imperfect DNA profile to identify the victim as Dawn Olanick, whom it is believed Kinlaw murdered when she resisted his attempt to coerce her into prostitution. 50-year-old triple homicide cold case solved after tip leads to Dixie Mafia, Colorado police solve four decades-old homicide cold cases with DNA from exhumed killer. 1980s cold case murders solved, O.C. Thanks to DNA and genealogy tracking, authorities announced Thursday, they have solved her case. The night of July 19, the couple had a fight and William DeRoos went for a walk to get some air. "The FBI and our partners will not give up. A Danby, Vermont couple, George and Catherine Peacock, were murdered in September 1989. In 1978, he was arrested for recklessly endangering and harassment, police said. Elkhart County, Indiana, is where, in May 2002, Robert Reed was found robbed and murdered inside his residence. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Jones arraignment is slated for March 1, according to the Superior Court clerks office. Meanwhile, Reyes still misses her mother. Thanks to these samples, a number of high-profile crimes have been solved in the past few years, perhaps most notably the arrest and conviction of the Golden State Killer. Because Forte had been dead since 1980, DNA was taken from his exhumed body. 2. A DNA sample taken at the time of that arrest was eventually used to connect him to the Lloyd and Cuevas slayings. Las Vegas police Lt. Ray Spencer announced Monday that advanced DNA testing helped investigators solve the cold case homicide of 16-year-old Kim Bryant. Forte you would need to search over 4 million planet earths.. Its also become a valuable tool for law enforcement officers trying to solve old crimes. Her body was located more than 13 years later, in May of this year, about 35 miles from where she disappeared, officials have said. They did, however, find that both were racing enthusiasts and attended stock car races at the El Cajon Speedway around the time of Dahns murder. Dean was reportedly involved with a Jesus People organization before his death. DNA genealogy was used to compare the sample to public databases to find familial matches. That is, until 2019, when Detective Sgt. 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