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Defrosting Cold Cases

Est. 2009

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You are here: Home / Archives for DNA

DNA

Ewing plead not guilty

November 18, 2020 By Alice

On Nov 16, 2020 Alexander Christopher Ewing plead not guilty during his arraignment on Monday. That arraignment had been postponed several times due to Covid19. Ewing is as my readers know, the accused in two cases: the Bennett Family murders and the murder of Patricia Smith. The link between the cases is of course, DNA. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Alexander Christopher Ewing, Bennett Family, Colorado, DNA, Patricia Louise Smith

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 7

October 16, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today in the trial in the Nicky Verstappen case, we will hear from the Verstappen Family, the prosecution, the defense, and the last word is for the defendant himself. So let’s go over it. WARNING: this post contains graphic elements. First, I heard from readers who thought that if the defendant remained silent during the […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 6

October 12, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today, the defense presented their answer to the prosecution’s charges and evidence as presented in court related to the Nicky Verstappen trial. WARNING: this post contains graphic details! The loss of a child as young as Nicky, is horrifying. However, demanding a harsher sentence than the law from that time period allowed for, is unlawful. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 5

October 8, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day 5 in the court room in the case of Nicky Verstappen. Defendant Jos Brech is present. WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. Today, the prosecution presents its case in full. They will follow the case’s time line, presents all forensic evidence again, detail the steps that the police took in the investigation over the […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 4

October 7, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today is day 4 in the trial against Jos Brech in the case of Nicky Verstappen. We heard victim impact statements from Nicky’s direct family members: his mother Berthie Verstappen spoke also on behalve of father Peter, Nicky’s younger sister Femke, and Peter’s sister Jacqueline. Earlier today, the family had asked the court whether they […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 3

October 5, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day 3 in the Nicky Verstappen trial against Jos Brech brought forward some interesting details but not the breakthrough to solidify this case. We heard from a forensic expert, we got details about the psychiatric observations at the Pieter Baan Centrum where Brech has been for evaluation, and we got a more detailed look at […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: abduction, DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, trial day 2

September 29, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Day two covering the trial in the Netherlands in the 1998 unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen (11) who went missing from summer camp. Nicky was found dead 40 hours later. His body was a kilometer away from camp in an area where Christmas trees are grown for wholesale. All posts about Verstappen can be found […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: abduction, DNA, Nicky Verstappen, suffocation, the Netherlands

Nicky Verstappen, case on trial

September 28, 2020 By Alice

Nicky Verstappen Photography Dutch Police

Today the trial started in the Netherlands in the unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen. Appearing in court: Jos Brech. Brech is charged with abduction, possession of child pornography, and qualified manslaughter. Now, in court, Brech revealed that he didn’t kill Verstappen. When he found him, he was already dead. My translation from articles in the […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Nicky Verstappen, the Netherlands

DeAngelo Jr., Convicted Felon

August 21, 2020 By Alice

Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr Grid AdS

It is  a rainy day on the East Coast. It set the perfect mood to write the introduction to this post. Because today, the man who ruined so many lives, the man who has dominated his many victims’ lives, will finally slip into the abyss of oblivion. Hence forth, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is a […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: California, DNA, East Area Rapist (EAR), Forensic Genealogy, Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr.

Life sentence in Michelle Martinko murder

August 7, 2020 By Alice

Michelle Martinko, courtesy Robert J. Riley

Today, we close the case of Michelle Martinko. Jerry Lynn Burns received the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was ordered to pay victim restitution of $150’000 to the estate of Michelle Marie Martinko or her heirs. The defense is seeking a restitution hearing on a later date. Burns […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Cedar Rapids, DNA, Iowa, Knife Attack, Michelle Marie Martinko

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Dina Fort

Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme, tone, and research. It is my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the About page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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