Decades old child murder solved using DNA evidence in Chicago

Published 15h ago · Latest report 2h ago · Investigation

Affects United States

AI summary37s readNegative

DNA evidence linked a deceased former Chicago detective to a 60-year-old child murder cold case.

Investigators used modern DNA profiling to solve the 1960 murder of an eight-year-old girl in Chicago. Police identified the perpetrator as a former department homicide detective who passed away in 2006. The breakthrough concludes a decades-old cold case that involved interviewing more than 1,300 people.

The victimEight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz was killed in 1960.
The suspectFormer detective Thomas McInerney died in 2006 after working for police and federal defenders.
The investigationAuthorities interviewed more than 1,300 people and administered polygraph tests during the decades-long inquiry.

Why it matters

Cold cases from decades past are increasingly being resolved through advancements in forensic DNA profiling, offering closure to families affected by historical crimes. Police departments across the country continue to re-examine legacy evidence using modern technological tools.

By the numbers3

65 yrscold case duration

1,300people interviewed

8victim age

How outlets cover it

What outlets agree on

Police used recently discovered DNA evidence to identify a former Chicago detective as the killer of an eight-year-old girl in 1960, even though the suspect died in 2006.

Tune your feed

Reactions