NPR: cold cases https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=223712189 cold cases en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sat, 16 Aug 2025 23:36:41 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: cold cases https://www.npr.org/tags/223712189/cold-cases A drop of blood and modern DNA test lead to an arrest in a 1989 double murder A drop of blood that was subjected to modern DNA testing enabled Vermont State Police detectives to make an arrest in the 1989 murder of a couple found stabbed to death in their home, police said. Sat, 15 Oct 2022 14:17:12 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2022/10/15/1129318012/dna-test-arrest-vermont-double-murder-1989 https://www.npr.org/2022/10/15/1129318012/dna-test-arrest-vermont-double-murder-1989 A drop of blood that was subjected to modern DNA testing enabled Vermont State Police detectives to make an arrest in the 1989 murder of a couple found stabbed to death in their home, police said.

]]> The Associated Press Police solve 1964 rape and murder of girl with help of DNA and a student New technology and the help of a volunteer college student help solve what is believed to be the fourth-oldest cold case in the U.S. using genetic genealogy. Thu, 10 Feb 2022 22:02:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/10/1080021370/police-solve-1964-rape-and-murder-of-girl-with-help-of-dna-and-a-student https://www.npr.org/2022/02/10/1080021370/police-solve-1964-rape-and-murder-of-girl-with-help-of-dna-and-a-student New technology and the help of a volunteer college student help solve what is believed to be the fourth-oldest cold case in the U.S. using genetic genealogy.

]]> The Associated Press Australian Authorities Make Arrest In Apparent Hate Crime Murder Of Gay Man In 1988 In 1988, American mathematician Scott Johnson died after falling off a cliff in Sydney. Police now believe his death was among a number of anti-gay hate crimes that took place over several decades. Tue, 12 May 2020 18:11:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/12/854880018/australian-authorities-make-arrest-in-apparent-hate-crime-murder-of-gay-man-in-1 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/12/854880018/australian-authorities-make-arrest-in-apparent-hate-crime-murder-of-gay-man-in-1 In 1988, American mathematician Scott Johnson died after falling off a cliff in Sydney. Police now believe his death was among a number of anti-gay hate crimes that took place over several decades.

]]> Austin Horn 3 Billboards In Baltimore: How One Woman Is Trying To Find Her Sister's Killer Jennifer Carrieri's twin was shot and murdered in an empty parking lot in 1996, but nobody knows why. This year, Carrieri put up billboards in Baltimore, Md., in the hopes of solving the cold case. Sun, 10 Mar 2019 17:02:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2019/03/10/702009509/3-billboards-in-baltimore-how-one-woman-is-trying-to-find-her-sisters-killer https://www.npr.org/2019/03/10/702009509/3-billboards-in-baltimore-how-one-woman-is-trying-to-find-her-sisters-killer

Jennifer Carrieri's twin was shot and murdered in an empty parking lot in 1996, but nobody knows why. This year, Carrieri put up billboards in Baltimore, Md., in the hopes of solving the cold case.

]]> Amanda Morris Suspect In Decade-Old Serial Rapes Arrested, With Help Of Genealogy Database A suspect in the "Ramsey Street Rapist" case in Fayetteville, N.C., was located after a search through a public genealogy database. It's the same process used in the case of the Golden State Killer. Thu, 23 Aug 2018 11:54:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2018/08/23/641208167/suspect-in-decade-old-serial-rapes-arrested-with-help-of-to-genealogy-database https://www.npr.org/2018/08/23/641208167/suspect-in-decade-old-serial-rapes-arrested-with-help-of-to-genealogy-database

A suspect in the "Ramsey Street Rapist" case in Fayetteville, N.C., was located after a search through a public genealogy database. It's the same process used in the case of the Golden State Killer.

]]> Camila Domonoske Killer Clown Suspect Arrested 27 Years After Bizarre Slaying Detectives worked the case for years but couldn't convince prosecutors they had enough evidence. Sheila Keen Warren was arrested at the home she shares with her husband, who was married to the victim. Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:11:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/28/554249451/killer-clown-suspect-arrested-27-years-after-bizarre-slaying https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/28/554249451/killer-clown-suspect-arrested-27-years-after-bizarre-slaying

Detectives worked the case for years but couldn't convince prosecutors they had enough evidence. Sheila Keen Warren was arrested at the home she shares with her husband, who was married to the victim.

]]> Laurel Wamsley DNA Evidence Frees Illinois Man Convicted Of Rape, Murder In 1984 A judge agreed to vacate Christopher Abernathy's 1987 conviction in the killing of a 15-year-old girl after a request from the prosecutor. Abernathy, now 48, spent nearly 30 years in prison. Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:42:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/11/385550452/dna-evidence-frees-illinois-man-convicted-of-rape-murder-in-1984 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/11/385550452/dna-evidence-frees-illinois-man-convicted-of-rape-murder-in-1984

A judge agreed to vacate Christopher Abernathy's 1987 conviction in the killing of a 15-year-old girl after a request from the prosecutor. Abernathy, now 48, spent nearly 30 years in prison.

(Image credit: Terrence Antonio James)

]]> Krishnadev Calamur 43-Year-Old Cold Case Closed: South Dakota Girls Died In Accident The two teens disappeared in 1971. Last year, their bodies were found in the Studebaker they were last seen in. Now, authorities say it appears they mistakenly drove into a creek. Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:14:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/16/303654545/43-year-old-cold-case-closed-south-dakota-girls-died-in-accident https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/16/303654545/43-year-old-cold-case-closed-south-dakota-girls-died-in-accident The two teens disappeared in 1971. Last year, their bodies were found in the Studebaker they were last seen in. Now, authorities say it appears they mistakenly drove into a creek.

]]> Mark Memmott Another Car, Another Watery Grave, Another Cold Case Solved? A 1960 Studebaker was discovered in a South Dakota creek this week. Inside: what may be the remains of two high school girls who disappeared in 1971. This follows last week's discovery of two cars in one Oklahoma lake. Inside them: what may be the remains of six people who went missing decades ago. Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:54:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/09/25/226059033/another-car-another-watery-grave-another-cold-case-solved https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/09/25/226059033/another-car-another-watery-grave-another-cold-case-solved A 1960 Studebaker was discovered in a South Dakota creek this week. Inside: what may be the remains of two high school girls who disappeared in 1971. This follows last week's discovery of two cars in one Oklahoma lake. Inside them: what may be the remains of six people who went missing decades ago.

]]> Mark Memmott 2 Cars, 5 Or 6 Bodies From Decades Ago Found In Oklahoma Lake How did the cars and the people inside end up in western Oklahoma's Foss Lake? That's still a mystery. The vehicles and those last seen in them went missing in the '60s and early '70s. They were found by chance when sheriff's deputies were testing sonar equipment. Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:32:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/09/18/223711703/2-cars-5-or-6-bodies-from-decades-ago-found-in-oklahoma-lake https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/09/18/223711703/2-cars-5-or-6-bodies-from-decades-ago-found-in-oklahoma-lake How did the cars and the people inside end up in western Oklahoma's Foss Lake? That's still a mystery. The vehicles and those last seen in them went missing in the '60s and early '70s. They were found by chance when sheriff's deputies were testing sonar equipment.

]]> Mark Memmott