Thanks to DNA, we now know who killed Laura Kempton in September 1981. Ronney James Lee, then 21, lived and worked in Portsmouth at that time. “There is no indication that he knew or was acquainted with Laura Kempton,” said Assistant Attorney General Rachel Harrington. In this article you can learn more about Lee. In […]
DNA
Methodology on Trial
The methodology of Investigative Genetic Genealogy will go on trial in Canada. The hearing is set for the week of June 19-23. The case is brought by the defense for double-murder suspect Leonard Cochrane. Cochrane is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in the July 11, 1994 shooting deaths of Barry Buchart and […]
Sharron Prior: DNA confirmed
As posted earlier, the Canadian authorities have been able to match DNA found at the Sharron Prior crime scene to the West Virginia Romine Family. Two brothers voluntarily gave their DNA. Their profiles showed a close but partial match to that what was found at Sharron Prior’s crime scene. These two brothers were never suspects. […]
Sharron Prior: DNA and exhumation
We are getting answers in the 1975 rape-murder of Sharron Prior (Feb 9, 1959 – March 29, 1975) from Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. Sharron was sixteen years old when she left home to meet friends at a nearby pizzeria. She never arrived. She was abducted, raped, beaten, and murdered. Her body was found three days later. […]
Appeal Denied in 1979 Martinko Murder
On March 31, 2023 The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Jerry Lynn Burns in the 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko. The PDF of the opinion is here. “In a 5-2 decision, the majority found police followed the law in obtaining Burns’ DNA from an abandoned drinking straw, and did not violate his rights […]
Sonia Carmen Herok-Stone: update
The trial against Michael Scott Glazebrook started on January 30, 2023 and ended February 7 with a guilty verdict for the 1981 murder of Sonia Carmen Herok-Stone. The jury deliberated for almost six hours. “In 2023, after an eight-day jury trial before the Honorable Pamela L. Butler, the jury convicted Glazebrook of first-degree murder. The […]
Identified: Joseph Augustus Zarelli
On Thursday, December 8, 2022, the Philadelphia Police Department announced the name of the child know as the Boy in the Box: Joseph Augustus Zarelli. He was four years old. On February 25, 1957 Joseph Augustus Zarelli was found dead inside a cardboard box that was left on an empty lot near then Susquehanna Road […]
Elodie Kulik: appeals continue
The Court of Cassation will review Willy Bardon’s appeal on Nov 30, 2022. Bardon is appealing his 2019 guilty verdict in the 2002 rape-murder of Elodie Kulik. On July 1, 2021 the North Assize Court of Appeal in Douai, France, confirmed the 2019 verdict of the lower court that sentenced Willy Bardon to 30 years […]
Zeigler closer to modern DNA testing
On Oct 27, Florida Circuit Judge Patricia L. Strowbridge brought William Thomas Zeigler a step closer to proving that he is innocent. The 77-year-old has said so from the start. The preserved evidence pieces of guns, victim fingernail clippings and clothes will prove that he did not kill four people in 1975. Modern DNA testing […]
Identified: El Dorado Jane Doe
We have the identity of the woman we came to know as El Dorado Jane Doe. Her first name is Kelly. Her family name is withheld for privacy reasons. Kelly (1968 – July 10, 1991) was the unidentified murder victim found in a motel room on July 10, 1991 in El Dorado, Arkansas. During the […]
Guilty Verdict for Patricia Louise Smith
On April 1, 2022, the trial against Alexander Christopher Ewing started for the 1984 rape-murder of Patricia Louise Smith. On April 5, the state and the defense rested their cases. Closing arguments were set for Wednesday afternoon after which the case was in the hands of the jury. On Thursday, April 7, 2022 Ewing was […]
Verdict Suzanne Arlene Bombardier: Guilty
On March 15, 2022 a jury found Mitchell Lynn Bacom guilty in the 1980 murder of Suzanne Arlene “Suzie” Bombardier. On Feb 8, 2018, Bacom had plead not guilty. He faces life without parole. The sentencing date has not been set. As soon as I get more details I will update this post and the […]
Trial for Suzanne Arlene Bombardier
Covid19 has pushed back a lot of trials and court dates in several cases that I am following. I am happy to confirm that a jury has been sworn in to judge the evidence in the 1980 murder of Suzanne Arlene “Suzie” Bombardier. As soon as I have more details I will add them here […]
Sophie Sergie Verdict: Guilty
Despite several setbacks and delays due to Covid19, the trial in the 1993 rape-murder of Sophie Sergie finally took place in the beginning of this year. I did not post daily updates but here is the verdict and my summary: Steven Downs faced first degree murder and first degree sexual assault. The jury found him guilty. […]
Nicky Verstappen: on Appeal
The Court of Appeals in the city of Den Bosch, the Netherlands, released its verdict after the prosecution had filed an appeal in the case of Nicky Verstappen’s death. The lower court had sentenced Josh Brech to 12.5 years after finding him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and the sexual abuse of Nicky Verstappen […]
Overturned: Timothy “Timmy” William Wiltsey
A reader alerted me to this New Jersey paper that held a report by Ted Sherman. The “New Jersey Supreme Court [on] Tuesday overturned the conviction against Michelle Lodzinski.” Michelle Lodzinski is the mother of Timothy “Timmy” William Wiltsey (August 6, 1985 – date missing May 25, 1991) who disappeared May 25, 1991. I read […]
Update Sophie Sergie Case
The Sun Journal notes that defendant Steven H. Downs will be allowed to present three alternative suspects in the 1993 rape-murder of Sophie Sergie. In previous posts, I have mentioned other suspects and what I saw as problematic for the defense. Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple’s order allows these three men to be brought […]
Patricia Smith: Trial March 25, 2022
In October, in the 1984 Patricia Smith rape-murder trial, a mistrial was declared as the defense questined Alexander Christopher Ewing’s sanity to stand trial. Yesterday, a judge declared Ewing competent to stand trial. Jury selection is scheduled for March 25, 2022. The Case Patricia Louise Smith (50) was born on Sept 19, 1933. She was […]
Patricia Smith: mistrial
Today, a mistrial was declared in the rape-murder case of Patricia Smith. The defense team for Alexander Christopher Ewing filed a motion early this morning. They argued that Ewing “was not competent to stand trial.” That motions will remain sealed until further notice. This does mean that the content is not public and therefore, we […]
Patricia Smith Trial Day 1
Today, the long-awaited trial against Alexander Christopher Ewing started for the rape-murder of Patricia Louise Smith. Ewing is represented by Katherine Powers Spengler. The State left no doubt about it: it will show all the similarities between the Bennett Family Murders and the rape-murder of Patricia Smith. In Aug 2021, Ewing was found guilty and […]