Latest news with #OperationSturbridge
1News
a day ago
- 1News
New DNA tech used to re-examine cold-case murder of 6yo, 45 years on
Police hope that a trial for a new genetic investigative tool could provide new leads into the 45-year-old cold-case murder and rape of 6-year-old Alicia O'Reilly. Alicia was found raped and murdered in her bed on the morning of August 16, 1980, just metres away from where her 8-year-old sister Juliet was sleeping in the same room of their home on Canal Road in Auckland's Avondale. After 45 years, nobody has been convicted for her death. Police reopened the case in 2020 as part of an operation called Operation Sturbridge. This morning, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said a DNA sample had been obtained and hoped it could provide new leads. ADVERTISEMENT Beard said police were using a new genetic investigative tool called Investigative Genetic Genealogy, which has been under trial in recent years. He said investigators were "methodically" working through the trial. 'This is a slow process, and we are working carefully through this trial,' he said. 'Modern scientific technology continues to advance, and we are working very closely with PHF Science to try and establish a DNA link to a potential offender." The O'Reilly home in Canal Road. (Source: NZ Police) Beard said that no matter how much time passed, he hadn't given up hope. "We would dearly like to give Alicia's family the answers they so deeply deserve after all this time,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT 'They continue to suffer from not knowing who is responsible for this crime. 'My thoughts are with them today, especially.' He urged anyone who had information on Alicia's death to come foward. "It's not too late," he said. Beard said the operation had used the Behavioural Science Unit to re-examine persons of interest. 'Part of the investigation is looking at reviewing every person who was considered a person of interest back in 1980, whether they were eliminated or not, even those who may have passed away. 'Our aim is to solve the case and give the family the answers.' ADVERTISEMENT Alicia and her sister's bedroom. (Source: NZ Police ) Alicia's death was the subject of a 2021 episode of Cold Case, which can be watched on TVNZ+. When the episode was released, police said there had been a "genuine breakthrough" after detectives found a vaginal swab and slides made at the time of Alicia's post-mortem. Police said there was a full DNA profile of Alicia's killer, but it matched nobody in the national DNA database. Over the course of the investigation, police had collected 1200 DNA samples from a list of men, comprised of those initially identified in the area canvas as well as others who had been added since. A suspect from the 1980s has been eliminated as the offender. Where to get help for sexual violence. (Source: 1News)
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Police to re-examine murder of 6-year-old, 45 years on
Alicia O'Reilly was murdered in 1980, when she was just six years old. Photo: Supplied/New Zealand Herald Police have announced they are continuing to examine new evidence and to use a forensic tool in the hopes of solving the murder of six-year-old Alicia O'Reilly, who was killed in Auckland 45 years ago. A police statement on Saturday said O'Reilly was raped and was killed at her Canal Road home in the suburb of Avondale, early on 16 August 1980. At this stage nobody has been convicted for her death. O'Reilly's case was reopened in 2020 and the investigation dubbed Operation Sturbridge. In a statement, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said on Saturday that a DNA sample had been obtained which police hope could provide leads. Police are also working with a new technology, trailing an Investigative Genetic Genealogy tool, he said. "This is a slow process, and we are working carefully through this trial. "Modern scientific technology continues to advance, and we are working very closely with PHF Science to try and establish a DNA link to a potential offender." Experts from the Behavioural Science Unit are also contributing to the investigation, Beard said. "Part of the investigation is looking at reviewing every person who was considered a person of interest back in 1980, whether they were eliminated or not - even those who may have passed away." Beard said police still had hope the investigation would yield answers and a resolution. "We would dearly like to give Alicia's family the answers they so deeply deserve after all this time," he said. "My thoughts are with them today especially ... They continue to suffer from not knowing who is responsible for this crime." He urged anyone with knowledge about what happened to come forward: "Even after all these years, if there is someone out there who has any knowledge as to who was involved ... Police want to hear from you - it's not too late."
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Police use new DNA tech to re-examine death of 6-year-old, 45 years on
Police are using DNA to try to solve the 1980 murder of six-year-old Alicia O'Reilly, who was killed at her Avondale home. Photo: Photo by ANIRUDH on Unsplash Warning: this story discusses details of the murder and assault of a child. Police have announced they are examining new evidence, and hope to use a forensic tool to solve the murder of six-year-old Alicia O'Reilly, who was killed in Auckland 45 years ago. A police statement on Saturday said O'Reilly was raped and was killed at her Canal Road home in the suburb of Avondale early on 16 August 1980. At this stage nobody has been convicted for her death. O'Reilly's case was reopened in 2020 and the investigation dubbed Operation Sturbridge. In a statement, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said on Saturday that a DNA sample had been obtained, which police hope could provide leads. Police are also working with a new technology, trailing an Investigative Genetic Genealogy tool, he said. "This is a slow process, and we are working carefully through this trial. "Modern scientific technology continues to advance, and we are working very closely with PHF Science to try and establish a DNA link to a potential offender." Alicia O'Reilly was murdered in 1980, when she was just six years old. Photo: Supplied/New Zealand Herald More to come ... If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
