Justice Has No Time Limit

In February 1974, a 25-year-old artist set off on a trek hitchhiking to an art show. It was a little over a five-hour drive. She didn’t make it far.

Through DNA and investigative genetic genealogy, students at Ramapo College, law enforcement agencies worked together to solve this cold case 50 years later. More about the coursework at the college below.

At the place where law enforcement found the young woman’s body, they found a beanie near the body. DNA testing wasn’t available. They had plenty of tips and leads, but nothing that pointed to a specific person.

When advanced testing became available, they had no match to the hair samples found inside the beanie.

The law enforcement agency reached out to a college program known for their work in genetic genealogy investigation. The program accepted the challenge and identified a possible family line. After interviewing the potential contributor of the hair sample, they ruled him out as a suspect. Next, they looked at his cousin, who they also ruled out.

Stymied by the DNA testing results, the investigation team thought to add to the search a possible adoption, which would alter the family tree. This additional consideration led to a strong connection, which they connected to a young woman—perhaps the killer’s daughter.

The daughter agreed to upload her DNA to a genealogy website so that the investigation could have two samples to compare. They had a hit. The hair in the beanie was a match to her father. But that didn’t prove he had killed the young artist.

When law enforcement officers knocked on his door at the assisted living facility, the 84-year-old man opened the door and told them he knew why they were there.

He pleaded no contest to the charges. He did, however, admit he had picked up the young lady. And admitted he had asked her for sex. Then gave details about what he did when she said no. He killed her, then dumped her body in a snowbank. The way he said he’d killed her coincided with the autopsy results. Fifty years later, his memory of the act was clear.

A judge sentenced the 84-year-old to life in prison.

The victim’s niece said,

“This case is a reminder that justice has no time limit, and to families still searching for the truth, let her aunt’s story be a testament that persistence, science and dedication can bring a long-awaited closure.”

The Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center works cases pro-bono and has three objectives:

• Using IGG to resolve cases involving violent crime, unidentified human remains, and wrongful convictions

• Training students to become proficient and ethical IGG practitioners

• Researching the field of IGG and finding ways to expand its reach to further secure justice

For more information on this powerful program: https://www.ramapo.edu/igg/

Source: State of Wisconsin Circuit Court, CBS News, ABC News, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, ABC 11, Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center at Ramapo College