All articles tagged with #coldcase
Nearly 48 years after a 15-year-old girl's body was found in a Kern County vineyard in 1978, investigators identified the victim as Michelle Louise Collier through modern DNA analysis and a family member's genealogy data; the case remains open and authorities seek any additional information.
A DFW-area real estate agent, Mayra Velasquez of Pure Realtors, was arrested July 16 and charged with capital murder in Arlington's 2012 killing of Irasema Chavez, following a breakthrough with the FBI's Investigative Genetic Genealogy program; authorities say more details will be shared at a press conference, and Velasquez is held without bond.
After more than three years, Pennsylvania authorities charged Michelle Zajko, the daughter of slain couple Richard and Rita Zajko, in their 2022 killings in Chester Heights. Investigators say incriminating texts, ballistics data, and enhanced surveillance audio place her at least partly responsible and point to possible co-conspirators not yet identified. The case is tied to the so-called Zizians, a group linked to other violent incidents, and detectives continue pursuing others seen entering the home before the December 31, 2022 killings.
DNA and forensic genealogy linked the 1986 Virginia Beach rape-and-murder of 22-year-old Roberta Walls to Charles Berry, a 66-year-old man in Newington, Connecticut. Berry was arrested on a fugitive-from-justice charge and awaits extradition to Virginia, with investigators holding him on a $10 million bond as they prepare to pursue charges in the case.
Houston police arrested Floyd William Parrott, 64, in Nebraska for the 1990 Lovers’ Lane murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson, solving a 36-year cold case after a 2025 tip and a CODIS DNA match tied to Henry’s autopsy; Parrott faces capital murder charges and awaits extradition to Harris County, with investigators noting a history of crimes and possible additional victims.
Floyd William Parrott, 64, has been charged with capital murder in the 1990 Lovers’ Lane killings of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson in Houston. He was arrested in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is awaiting extradition to Texas as investigators link him to the decades-old case, which earlier saw the victims found in a parked car after being stabbed, with Henry sexually assaulted.
Kristin Ramsey, 53, was arrested on first-degree murder charges in the 2011 killing of Ashley Okland, a 27-year-old realtor who was shot during an open house in West Des Moines. A Dallas County grand jury issued the indictment, and Ramsey is held on a $2 million cash-only bond. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or any connection between Ramsey and Okland, and the case was revived after years of investigation, drawing strong reaction from family and the local real estate community.
After more than five decades, the 1969 murder of 17-year-old Mary Kay Heese in Wahoo, Nebraska was revisited with new evidence and forensic review, linking suspect Joseph Ambroz to the crime via witness accounts, a compatible shoeprint, and a blood-stained car, followed by exhumation and a renewed autopsy. Ambroz was indicted in 2024 and, in 2025, pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder as Wayne Greaser—the other alleged conspirator who has since died—was named in the case. The deal, shaped by era-specific sentencing limits (a two-year maximum) and Good Time reductions, left the family seeking fuller justice and prosecutors acknowledging the case still lacks clear closure.
The unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old found dead in her Boulder, Colorado home in 1996, is gaining renewed attention due to advancements in DNA technology and increased public interest. Her father, John Ramsey, hopes these developments will finally identify her killer. Despite being exonerated, the Ramsey family faced years of public suspicion. Recent changes in police leadership and a Netflix docuseries have reignited efforts to solve the case, with investigators exploring the possibility of an intruder being responsible.
Following the release of a Netflix docuseries on the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey, Boulder police reaffirmed their commitment to solving the case but did not disclose any new leads. The 1996 murder of the six-year-old beauty queen remains a high-profile cold case, with renewed public interest and calls for advanced DNA testing. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn emphasized the department's dedication to finding the killer, despite past criticisms of their investigation. The police department has denied claims of ignoring viable evidence and continues to pursue all tips.
A car discovered in a Georgia pond is believed to belong to a New York couple who have been missing since 1980, potentially providing a breakthrough in a decades-old cold case.
John Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey, believes advancements in DNA technology could help solve his daughter's 1996 murder case. Despite being exonerated, the Ramseys were initially suspects, and the case remains unsolved. John is collaborating on a Netflix docuseries to pressure police into using new DNA methods, hoping to identify the killer through genealogy research. The Boulder Police Department continues to prioritize the investigation, working with DNA experts to resolve the case.
A car and human bone found in a Georgia pond may be linked to Charles and Catherine Romer, a couple who vanished in 1980. The vehicle, a Lincoln Continental, matches the description of the car the Romers were driving when they disappeared while returning home from Miami Beach. The discovery was made by a sonar team, and authorities are investigating the site for additional remains. The couple's disappearance had raised suspicions of foul play due to the valuable jewelry Catherine Romer was wearing at the time.
A car matching the description of a 1978 Lincoln driven by Charles and Catherine Romer, a wealthy New York couple who vanished in 1980, has been found submerged in a Georgia pond near their last known location. A human bone was discovered inside the vehicle, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is involved in the case. The couple disappeared while returning from Miami Beach, and foul play was suspected due to the valuable jewelry Catherine was wearing. The pond is being drained to further investigate the remains and circumstances of their disappearance.
Netflix's documentary "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey" revisits the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey, focusing on police and prosecutorial missteps while suggesting an intruder theory. Directed by Joe Berlinger, the series critiques the media's portrayal of the Ramseys and examines biases in the investigation. However, it lacks nuance, failing to address cultural and gender dynamics that influenced public perception and legal proceedings. The documentary highlights the complexities and ongoing speculation surrounding the case, but doesn't provide definitive answers.