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- Police in Colorado have cracked the cold cases of four women killed 40 years ago.
- Denver PD said genetic genealogy and DNA analysis helped them identify the serial killer.
- He had died by suicide in jail in 1981. DNA from his exhumed body matched evidence from the murders.
Police in Colorado have cracked the code on four murder cases that went unsolved for 40 years, using DNA from the killer’s exhumed body.
The cases pertain to four women killed in the Denver metro area between 1978 and 1981. They were 33-year-old Madeleine Furey-Livaudais, 53-year-old Dolores Barajas, 27-year-old Gwendolyn Harris, and 17-year-old Antoinette Parks. The four women were stabbed to death. Denver Police Commander Matt Clark said in a press conference Friday that there was an “underlying sexual component” to the murders but didn’t elaborate further.
In 2009, a detective reviewed Parks’ case and picked several pieces of evidence for potential DNA analysis. Most hadn’t yet been subject to forensic DNA analysis, which wasn’t an option in the 1980s. In 2011, another detective swabbed an empty glass tube that used to contain evidence, hoping to find trace residue, and was able to find the DNA profile of an unknown man. The man’s profile was entered into a database and later linked to the three other women’s cases.
Police began tracing genetic genealogy with the suspect’s DNA in 2019 and found a positive ancestry link in Texas, the Denver Post reports. Their search for members of the suspect’s family led them to a close biological relative.
Police identified Joe Michael Ervin as a suspect. Ervin had died by suicide in 1981 while in jail for the murder of an Aurora police officer. His remains were exhumed late last year, and DNA from his body matched the DNA profile of the male in the four cases.
One of Parks’ brothers, George Journey, spoke at the press conference Friday, saying Parks’ family has “closure” now that her killer has been identified.
“We can finally have peace knowing who did this to my little sister,” Journey said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.
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