These two cases were investigated separately until 2003, when the national DNA database CODIS revealed that samples from both crimes matched the same man. The case was revived in 2021 when Sgt. I traveled the world as a photographer. According to Garden Grove Deputy Police Chief Amir Al Farra, she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. 2 min; DEC 14, 2022; 3 YEAR OLD COLD CASE SOLVED After more than three decades of questions and grief, Tamika Reyes finally knows who killed her mother. Raymond Moody, 62, pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2022, in Georgetown, South Carolina, to raping and killing 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel in 2009. But years turned into decades, and police still didnt know who the suspect was. Investigators determined Drexel was strangled. Her death was later ruled a homicide, though a cause was not determined. Cottingham was known to approach his victims in mall parking lots and accuse them of stealing while imitating a security guard. DNA testing at home in Japan is starting to gain traction as more people age and seek answers about their risks for diseases. In May 2020, investigators started using investigative genetic genealogy, which combines DNA evidence and traditional genealogy, to find biological connection between people. The suspects profile was created and uploaded into commercial genealogy sites that allow law enforcement agencies to participate, police said. Mark Baron. She was spending the summer working as a maid at a local motel and taking graduate courses at the University of Vermont. Jeff Highsmith, Melissas younger brother, said his family had undergone tests through genealogy service 23andMe and received the results on Nov. 22 showing there was a match with Melissas kids. Patrick Gilham pleaded no contest to murder of Roxanne Wood. Online records show he is not eligible for parole in that state until 2030. Due to decomposition, it was tough to determine the girl's age, let alone her identity; at the time, authorities believed her to be about 7 years old. Amazingly, the cold case was solved within 20 minutes by YouTubers Adventures with Purpose (AWP). Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. The Burlington Police Department reactivated the case in 2019 when Lt. Detective Commander Jim Trieb put his whole team of detectives on the case. 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. The night of July 19, the couple had a fight and William DeRoos went for a walk to get some air. Mark Beyer, who was 2-years-old when his mother was murdered. "When I looked at her, I just knew. A man confessed to the crime shortly after. In an interview with Burlington police in the fall of 2022, Michelle DeRoos, who now goes by another name, said that her husband at the time had a criminal history and told her not to mention to police that he was not home at the time of the murder because they would try to accuse him of it. This finally happened in 2022, when DNA information provided to public websites by members of the killer's family allowed authorities to focus on Scott Grim, a resident of the area who had never been charged with any crime. 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. The most stubborn cold case in the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was finally cracked in 2022 thanks to an ingenious piece of investigative work. So far, theyve found no ties. 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. Two other possible suspects, who remain unnamed, were not properly ruled out nor disclosed to the defense, Mosby said. The 1980 murder of Asenath Dukat was one that shook the Columbus, Ohio community for a simple reason. Meanwhile, detectives sent the genetic evidence from the cigarette butt to a genealogy company to see if a bigger database of DNA could help them find the killer. This is the fifth time the Sheriffs Homicide Unit has used investigative genetic genealogy to solve a cold case. Although police had fingerprints and photographs of Kelly, they believed that they had done all DNA testing possible in 2004. 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. In 1988, Robertson worked as local tow truck driver in San Diego, according to investigators, but after Dahns murder, he left his family and moved about 20 miles away to Lakeside, California. "The babysitter called the mother later, saying she really wanted the job, had a nice big yard and cared for other children as well.". DNA WINS THIS SEARCH! On July 10, 1991, a young woman was murdered at the Whitehall Motel in El Dorado, AK, by her ex-boyfriend and alleged pimp, James McAlphin. A new division at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, dubbed the Cold Case Homicide Squad, took over the investigation in 2005 -- but it would still be another 16 years until a forensic. Tamika Reyes: "No child should ever have to grow up without their mom.". There are cold cases, and then there is the murder of James Tappen Hall, a Montgomery County (Maryland) Sheriff's deputy who was moonlighting as a security guard at a local country club when he was shot in the club's parking lot in October 1971. When they did, the now-elderly killer presumably weary from looking over his shoulder for 45 years broke down and confessed to the crime. Unfortunately, the 62-year-old mystery has only been partially solved the cops are still on the lookout for Gallegos' abductor, although it seems a safe bet that if they're still alive, the extremely long, doggedly determined arm of the law will catch up to them eventually. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. A male's DNA was detected on the cigarette butt in testing, but the DNA did not match the DNA of anyone in the national database of felons. I knew," Jeff Highsmith said. 2023 Cable News Network. Today we take a look at 20 Cold Cases Solved In 2022. FOUND: MELISSA HIGHSMITH'S FAMILY 'OVERJOYED' AFTER BEING REUNITED WITH SISTER ABDUCTED IN 1971. They found Knutson's body; investigators determined she'd been deceased for over a day. 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 crime scene outside of the apartment complex where both Robertson and Dahn lived on May 2, 1988. Elkhart County, Indiana, is where, in May 2002, Robert Reed was found robbed and murdered inside his residence. According to local news station WFAA, federal kidnapping charges, which have no statute of limitations, could still be filed, but only if certain criteria are met, such as the kidnapper crossing state lines or using mail to conduct the kidnapping. Through that, police were able the get their first genealogical match: a very distant relative, possibly a 6th cousin, according to Brutosky. All Rights Reserved. She also plans to remarry her current husband so her father can walk her down the aisle. March 17, 2022. The extraordinary violence and cruelty of these murders demonstrates the extreme danger he presents to society, the court documents said. Detective Lt. Jason Moran, Cook County Sheriff's Office, Special Victims/Forensic Services Unit. For over 60 years, the identity of a girl whose body was found in an Arizona desert has been a mystery. Fortes name never came up over the years, police said, and they believe this was a random attack. 10 Unsettling Unsolved Cold Cases - Listverse Crime | April 26, 2022 10 Unsettling Unsolved Cold Cases by Estelle fact checked by Darci Heikkinen The saying goes, "the truth always comes out in the end." And for the most part, through life's twists and turns, that saying seems to ring true. 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. Highsmiths mother gave her the job. I couldnt believe it, she said, referring to the day police told her about the killings. 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. Dahns 2-year-old was wandering around the apartment complex. "The FBI and our partners will not give up. Known only as Kelly to protect her family's privacy, the woman's identity was finally revealed through DNA testing. She was a mother. In April 1986, 32-year-old Janet Love was found raped and murdered in her Bedford, Texas, apartment. Police said Josephs parents have since died, and no one claimed the child or reported him missing at the time his remains were discovered. Unfortunately, Simcak will never be tried for the death of Madger, as he died in 2018.[9]. In the summer of 1960, the body of a young girl was found near a highway in Yavapai Country, Arizona. In this video, we are going to talk about cold cases that were solved in 2022, after decades. That is, until 2022, when police identified a suspect. She was last seen alive around 8:10 a.m., according to Pennsylvania State Police. 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. NEBRASKA MAN ID'D AS MINNESOTA COLD CASE MURDER VICTIM, 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. 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. 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). CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The circumstances around what led up to her death remain a mystery, 34 years later -- but DNA evidence points to her killer. or redistributed. According to one friend, Rice had told Knutson, One way or another, Im going to get you out of this house. Still, Rice had an alibi; she said she had been staying out of town at her family's farm all weekend. On March 18, 1964, Chiverella left her house to walk to school. That is, until 2019, when Detective Sgt. Most cold cases do not get solved, so it is still fairly a spectacular occurrence when one is. The case lay dormant for years until, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the killing in 2021, investigators decided to take a fresh look. Beichlers case was revived in 2019 when prosecutors released composite images of a man whose DNA was supposedly left at the scene. "And after 50 years, they did.". 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. The murder of 33-year-old Santa Cruz, California, restaurant owner Joette Smith was precipitated by what should have been an innocuous circumstance. 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. Nothing, that is, until 2018, when an amateur cold case enthusiast came forward with one tiny detail after police reopened the case. Anna Kane. Well, here we are in 2022, and that little piece of evidence that they collected was exactly what we needed.. The answers that my family received is closure and closure is everything even after so much time had passed.. The family of Melissa Highsmith provided this photo of her as a baby. Due to a lack of physical evidence, however, this unknown man was acquitted of the crime. Police released this image of James Paul Forte from his high school yearbook. Legal Statement. According to Garden Grove Deputy Police Chief Amir Al Farra, she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. They later determined that it matched the DNA on the envelope from 1990, confirming investigators belief that the person behind the letter was the killer. In addition, forensic genetic genealogy has given back the names of Jane and John Does who had remained unidentified for decades. 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). He died in 1980 of natural causes, possibly a heart attack, according to police. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. These familial matches led police to David Sinopoli, one of Beichlers neighbors at the time. Using data from Brittanee's cell phone, authorities were finally able to pinpoint the location of Brittanee's disappearance more effectively than in previous attempts, which led to the discovery of a surveillance video implicating Moody in the crime, as reported by Democrat & Chronicle. 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