National

Mystery unlocked as these seven cold cases sat unsolved — until now

Stories by Real-Time News journalists, with AI summarization

One story recounts how California police used forensic genetic genealogy to identify the accused killer of Danielle Clause, found slain in 1991. Another describes how deputies in Colorado identified the remains of Christopher Scott Case more than 20 years after a man found his body while walking his dog.

Read the stories below.

A cold case involved Danielle Clause, 42, who was found slain on a Ventura hilltop in 1991, has been solved, California police say. Photo from Ventura Police Department

NO. 1: WOMAN FOUND SLAIN ON HILLTOP IN 1991, CALIFORNIA COPS SAY. NOW DNA HELPS SOLVE CASE

“She was a good person with a mighty soul, and she was taken way too young.” | Published May 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

Investigators have identified a suspect in the killing of a teen babysitter nearly five decades ago, Colorado police say. Photo from Colorado Springs Police Department

NO. 2: MOM CAME HOME TO FIND BABYSITTER DEAD 47 YEARS AGO, CO COPS SAY. NOW THERE’S A SUSPECT

A bloodstain from the 14-year-old’s jumpsuit helped lead investigators to a suspect, police said. | Published May 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

More than two decades after a man walking his dog in a field stumbled on human remains, they’ve been identified, Colorado deputies say. Photo by Max Böttinger via Unsplash

NO. 3: MAN WALKING DOG FOUND HUMAN REMAINS IN 2000, COLORADO COPS SAY. NOW THEY’RE IDENTIFIED

“This case was as cold as they get.” | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

Investigators said they believe Mary Kay Heese tried to flee and fight back against her killer but was overpower, a local news outlet reported. Screen grab from Mary Key Heese TipLine Facebook post

NO. 4: ARREST MADE 55 YEARS AFTER TEEN GIRL WAS FOUND DEAD IN ROADSIDE DITCH, NEBRASKA COPS SAY

A farmer found the victim’s school books, leading police to the 17-year-old’s body with over a dozen stab wounds nearby, a local news outlet reported. | Published November 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lauren Liebhaber

Debra Miller, 18, was found dead in her Ohio apartment in 1981, Ohio police said, but her case went unsolved for decades. Photo by Mansfield Department of Police

NO. 5: SUSPECT IN 43-YEAR-OLD MURDER KILLED IN SHOOTOUT AS POLICE CLOSE IN, OHIO COPS SAY

“One individual continued to draw investigators’ attention but not enough evidence could ever be provided to sustain an indictment,” Ohio police said. | Published December 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kate Linderman

The man will be extradited to California to stand trial following the conclusion of a separate murder trial, police said.

NO. 6: WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN UTILITY CORRIDOR IN 1992, CA COPS SAY. NOW, THERE’S AN ARREST

The man “has been linked to three other sexual assault homicides,” police said. | Published January 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

Maria Weidhofer was found dead in Tilden Regional Park on a trail near Inspiration Point on Nov. 16, 1990, police said. Photo from East Bay Regional Park District Police Department

NO. 7: JOGGER FOUND DEAD WITH ROPE AROUND NECK IN 1990, CA COPS SAY. SUSPECT NOW IDENTIFIED

“This breakthrough comes after years of relentless investigation.” | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

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.