National

These five cold cases took years to solve. Now, there are answers

Stories by Real-Time News journalists, with AI summarization

Advances in DNA forensics are reigniting cold cases, solving mysteries after decades. From a 1993 assault of a teen girl in Alaska to a 52-year-old murder case in Utah, now there are answers.

Take a look at the stories below.

A man has been indicted in the cold case deaths of a brother and sister in Georgia in 1990, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office said. Getty Images/iStock photo

NO. 1: MAN RAPED WOMAN, KILLED HER AND HER BROTHER IN 1990, OFFICIALS SAY. NOW, HE’S CHARGED

He’s accused of stabbing the siblings at their Georgia apartment. | Published June 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

Gregory Nickell, an Army veteran, was shot and killed while on a date at a scenic overlook in 1972, deputies said. Photo from Uintah County Sheriff’s Office

NO. 2: ARMY VETERAN KILLED ON A DATE, UTAH COPS SAY. ARREST COMES 52 YEARS LATER ‘TO THE DAY’

The 21-year-old veteran was on a date at scenic Utah overlook when a man approached, deputies said. | Published November 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

Nellie Gillespie, who went missing in 1998, was identified by DNA more than 26 years later, according to Weatherford police. Family photo courtesy of Weatherford police

NO. 3: BODY OF WOMAN FOUND BEHIND NORTH TEXAS TRUCK STOP 26 YEARS AGO IDENTIFIED WITH DNA

Advanced DNA technology helped the Weatherford Police Department bring closure to the woman’s family. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Harriet Ramos

A man is headed to prison in connection with a 1993 sexual assault cold case, Alaska prosecutors said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 4: STRANGER FOLLOWED, RAPED TEEN GIRL IN 1993, ALASKA OFFICIALS SAY. NOW HE GETS PRISON

The man was identified years later through DNA, officials said. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sara Schilling

The Houston County Courthouse sits off of Carl Vinson Parkway on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Warner Robins, Georgia. By Katie Tucker

NO. 5: HOUSTON COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN 2010 RAPE COLD CASE. HE’LL SERVE LIFE SENTENCE

He was indicted in 2023. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alba Rosa

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.