These seven cold cases sat unsolved — until now. Take a look the stories

Miami Herald

01-07-2025

National These seven cold cases sat unsolved — until now. Take a look the stories
A decomposed body found in California in 1967 was identified after decades using forensic genetic genealogy, and a cigarette butt helped lead to an accused killer's arrest 35 years later in Florida. A partial fingerprint on a cigarette pack helped close a 1977 California murder case, and officials said DNA testing linked a suspect to the killing of a mother during a bank robbery in 1997.
Read the stories below.
Robert Hecht's new Lincoln was found in Lenoir, North Carolina, more than a 700-mile drive from the Florida home where he was found dead, authorities said. Photo from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
NO. 1: CIGARETTE BUTT IN DEAD MAN'S CAR LEADS TO ACCUSED KILLER 35 YEARS LATER, FLORIDA COPS SAY
The man's new car was found in Lenoir, North Carolina, more than a 700-mile drive from his Florida home, authorities said. | Published April 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd
Two women were strangled to death and dumped in the same location a little over a month apart in central Florida, authorities said. One man now faces murder charges. Photo from the Orange County Sheriff's Office
NO. 2: 'POTENTIAL SERIAL KILLER' KILLED SEX WORKERS, THEN DUMPED THEIR BODIES, FLORIDA COPS SAY
He 'targeted women he thought wouldn't be missed,' the Orange County Sheriff said. | Published April 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd
A woman has been identified 57 years after her body was found down a steep cliff, California deputies say. Photo from Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
NO. 3: DECOMPOSED BODY DOWN CLIFF POSED MYSTERY SINCE 1967, CA COPS SAY. NOW WOMAN IDENTIFIED
The woman was last known to have lived in San Francisco and was estranged from family, deputies said. | Published May 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura
Using DNA testing the remains were identified as Paul Richard Davis, of Kern County, deputies say. Photo from Plumas County Sheriff's Office
NO. 4: REMAINS FOUND IN SHALLOW GRAVE BY TREE TRIMMERS IN 1988 IDENTIFIED, CALIFORNIA COPS SAY
The man stopped calling family in the early 1980s, deputies said. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura