Six families find answers after decades of uncertainty
The curated articles share a common theme of resolving long-standing mysteries and cold cases through advanced forensic techniques, ultimately providing families with answers. In Florida, a prison confession and genetic testing finally identified a man murdered in 1972. The victim, Mack Proctor, was left by a canal, where his body decomposed, initially making identification impossible. Years later, genealogy helped link him to living relatives. In Alaska, investigators used DNA evidence to connect Donald McQuade to the 1978 murder of Shelley Connolly, resulting in a conviction several decades later.
In a further example, the identification of Maria Honzell’s killer in Colorado utilized genetic genealogy to link DNA evidence to William Kernan, bringing closure to her family. Meanwhile, Marcus Rutledge’s remains were identified in Tennessee after a DNA match from a skull found by a hunter, closing a painful chapter for his family. These examples demonstrate the power of modern forensic technology in solving cases that once seemed hopeless.
NO. 1: 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOUND DEAD ON SIDE OF ROAD IN 1978, COPS SAY. MAN NOW SENTENCED
The man was sentenced to 50 years in prison, Alaska officials said. | Published April 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez
NO. 2: MOM CAME HOME TO FIND BABYSITTER DEAD 47 YEARS AGO, CO COPS SAY. NOW THERE’S A SUSPECT
A bloodstain from the 14-year-old’s jumpsuit helped lead investigators to a suspect, police said. | Published May 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura
NO. 3: SLAIN MAN DUMPED NEAR CANAL TO BE EATEN BY TURTLES IN 1972, PRISONER TELLS FLORIDA COPS
DNA testing has now identified the cold case victim as a Georgia man. | Published May 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd
NO. 4: TWO GIRLS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT SLEEPOVER 36 YEARS AGO, WA COPS SAY. CASE NOW SOLVED
The case “profoundly affected” the community, police said. | Published December 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sara Schilling
NO. 5: SKULL FOUND BY HUNTER IN 2010 IDENTIFIED AS DAD MISSING SINCE 1998, TENNESSEE COPS SAY
The 23-year-old was identified through family’s DNA, Nashville police said. | Published February 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd
NO. 6: WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN DESERT IN 1981, NV COPS SAY. NOW BOYFRIEND ID’D AS SUSPECT
Family reported the 20-year-old missing when she didn’t come home from work, Nevada police say. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.