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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah cold case solved 40 years after 18-year-old woman's murder thanks to DNA sample, police say
A man who murdered an 18-year-old woman in Utah four decades ago has finally been identified, authorities said Thursday. Christine Gallegos was found dead on May 16, 1985, along Jefferson Street in Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake City Police Department said. She had been beaten, stabbed, sexually assaulted and shot to death near an area known then as Dirk's Field. Detectives were unable to find any leads despite years of investigative efforts and multiple rounds of forensic testing. The case went cold and remained so until 2023, when advances in DNA and genealogical testing connected the case to a man named Ricky Lee Stallworth. Stallworth was a 27-year-old airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base at the time of the Gallegos' murder, according to police. He died of natural causes in July 2023. Family Of Mom Murdered In Ritzy Dc Suburb Decades Ago Gets Justice As Perp Nobody Expected Pleads Guilty "We missed being able to talk to him and interview him just by a matter of months," Detective Cordon Parks said at a news conference on Thursday. "I wish we could have got to him before he died." Read On The Fox News App Stallworth was first named a likely suspect after the case was reexamined in 2023, with efforts focusing on identifying an unknown male DNA profile that had been previously entered into the Combined DNA Index System, a database of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence and missing persons. Othram Labs in The Woodlands, Texas, came up with the likely match after detectives sent evidence to the lab in late 2023 for advanced DNA analysis. One of Stallworth's family members then provided detectives with a voluntary DNA sample, which police said confirmed Stallworth as a match. Parks said an investigation into Stallworth revealed him to be "sort of a State Street stalker." "Even though he was married, he would tell his spouses that he was going out for the night," Parks said. "He'd leave late in the night, and he wouldn't come back until early, early the next morning." Detectives said a motive remains unclear and any potential relationship between Gallegos and Stallworth remains unanswered. Investigators have said it was "very obvious" that Gallegos struggled with the suspect before she was shot and stabbed. "She left a blood trail up to the gutter of Jefferson Street," Parks said. Detectives' True Crime Podcast Helps Dig Up Breakthrough In Case That Haunted Family: 'Drew Audible Gasp' Gallegos' mother, Leah, thanked investigators for "never giving up" on solving the case. "You never quit thinking about it. You never quit crying about it," Leah Gallegos said when reporters asked about her memories of her daughter. "I wonder about the kids that she would have…" she added. "She was outgoing, she was sweet ... they took so much away when they took her away." Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Steve O'Camb said he hoped that identifying the killer would bring the family closure. "Handcuffs, however, do not equal healing," O'Camb said. "The resolution of Christine's case is a prime example. We weren't able to arrest a suspect, but hopefully we achieved some measure of justice for her and the family and friends that loved her."Original article source: Utah cold case solved 40 years after 18-year-old woman's murder thanks to DNA sample, police say
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
40 years after Utah teen's murder, police identify her killer as a U.S. airman
The cold case murder of an 18-year-old Utah woman was recently solved after police identified her alleged killer through DNA and other evidence, police annouced exactly 40 years after her death. The body of Christine Gallegos was found in a field in Salt Lake City on May 16, 1985. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted, stabbed and fatally shot, and police said it was clear that she struggled with her attacker. Salt Lake City police said Thursday that the man responsible was a 27-year-old airman who died in 2023. An undated photo of Christine Gallegos. Salt Lake City Police Department Despite "exhaustive efforts and multiple rounds of forensic testing over the years," no viable leads emerged after Gallegos was murdered, and her death remained a mystery for 40 years, police said. "These cold case homicides are difficult and challenging – any homicide investigation is – but when any number of years pass, like on this one, it becomes even more challenging," Police Chief Brian Redd said during a news conference Thursday. In 2023, the case was re-examined and previously unidentified DNA samples were sent to Othram Labs in Texas. The company specializes in cold cases and uses genealogy. The effort was funded by a grant from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative organization, officials said. The testing results led investigators to identify Ricky Lee Stallworth as the likely suspect in the case. A family member's DNA confirmed the match, police said. Stallworth was a 27-year-old airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base at the time of Gallegos's death. He was never identified as a potential suspect, so he was never interviewed during the investigation, police said. Their relationship, if any, remains unclear and "remains one of the most significant unanswered questions in this case," police said. Stallworth, who lived in Layton, Utah, died of natural causes in July 2023. "We weren't able to arrest a suspect, but hopefully we achieved some measure of justice for her and the family and friends that loved her," Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Steve O'Camb said. Leah Gallegos and her adult son at a news conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gallegos' daughter, Christine Gallegos, was found dead on May 16, 1985. Police recently solved her case. Salt Lake City Police Department At Thursday's news conference, Gallegos' mother, Leah, thanked police for continuing to investigate her daughter's murder even when the trail ran cold. "I didn't know I was going to speak — I just know that I sure miss this girl every day," she said, standing beside her adult son. "I wonder about the kids that she would have, and I watch other people with their daughters, their grandkids."
15-05-2025
Cold case murder solved 40 years after Utah teenager killed after hitchhiking to work: Police
Police in Salt Lake City announced Thursday they have solved the cold case murder of Christine Gallegos, 40 years after the 18-year-old was found dead after trying to hitchhike to work. Gallegos was found dead on May 16, 1985, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department. She had been severely beaten, stabbed and shot twice in the head. Police believe that the person who picked her up the night before drove her to a remote area and sexually assaulted her, killing her after she tried to fight back. The case remained unsolved for decades. In 2023, the case was re-examined in an attempt to identify an unknown male DNA profile collected in the case. Detectives sent the evidence to Texas-based Othram Labs for advanced DNA analysis using investigative genetic genealogy, police said. That analysis identified a likely suspect, who was confirmed through a voluntary DNA sample from a family member to be Ricky Lee Stallworth, police said. Stallworth was a 27-year-old U.S. Air Force airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah, at the time of Gallegos' murder, police said. Police spoke with three of his four ex-wives and a friend before making contact with a child of his who provided a voluntary DNA sample that confirmed the match, according to retired Detective Cordon Parks. There is no indication that he and Gallegos knew each other, and Stallworth's name had never come up during the investigation, Parks said. Detectives were unable to interview Stallworth, who died from natural causes in July 2023, months before he was identified as a possible suspect, police said. "I wish we could have got to him before he died," Parks said during a press briefing on Thursday announcing the closure of the cold case. "Today, we can say with certainty that he was responsible for the death of Christine Gallegos," Parks continued. Stallworth was known to go out overnight and return in the morning "without explanation," Parks said. In the last two years of his life, police reports showed that he had been associated with prostitutes, Parks said. One of his ex-wives was "not surprised that we would be collecting his DNA" in a murder investigation, Parks said. Gallegos' mother, Leah Gallegos, remembered her daughter as "outgoing" and "sweet." "She was in love with her fiancé, Troy," Leah Gallegos said during the press briefing. "They had a family planned." "I just know that I sure miss this girl every day. I wonder about the kids that she would have, and I watch other people with their daughters, their grandkids," she said. "They took so much away when they took her away." Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd credited the "determination of our homicide detectives" and the advances in forensic technology in allowing them to solve the case.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cold case murder solved 40 years after Utah teenager killed after hitchhiking to work: Police
Police in Salt Lake City announced Thursday they have solved the cold case murder of Christine Gallegos, 40 years after the 18-year-old was found dead after trying to hitchhike to work. Gallegos was found dead on May 16, 1985, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department. She had been severely beaten, stabbed and shot twice in the head. Police believe that the person who picked her up the night before drove her to a remote area and sexually assaulted her, killing her after she tried to fight back. The case remained unsolved for decades. In 2023, the case was re-examined in an attempt to identify an unknown male DNA profile collected in the case. Detectives sent the evidence to Texas-based Othram Labs for advanced DNA analysis using investigative genetic genealogy, police said. MORE: Cold case solved over 50 years after a young mom was killed, her 3-year-old daughter left alive That analysis identified a likely suspect, who was confirmed through a voluntary DNA sample from a family member to be Ricky Lee Stallworth, police said. Stallworth was a 27-year-old U.S. Air Force airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah, at the time of Gallegos' murder, police said. Police spoke with three of his four ex-wives and a friend before making contact with a child of his who provided a voluntary DNA sample that confirmed the match, according to retired Detective Cordon Parks. There is no indication that he and Gallegos knew each other, and Stallworth's name had never come up during the investigation, Parks said. Detectives were unable to interview Stallworth, who died from natural causes in July 2023, months before he was identified as a possible suspect, police said. "I wish we could have got to him before he died," Parks said during a press briefing on Thursday announcing the closure of the cold case. "Today, we can say with certainty that he was responsible for the death of Christine Gallegos," Parks continued. MORE: Underwater remains could crack 1983 cold case of missing Chicago-area woman: Police Stallworth was known to go out overnight and return in the morning "without explanation," Parks said. In the last two years of his life, police reports showed that he had been associated with prostitutes, Parks said. One of his ex-wives was "not surprised that we would be collecting his DNA" in a murder investigation, Parks said. Gallegos' mother, Leah Gallegos, remembered her daughter as "outgoing" and "sweet." "She was in love with her fiancé, Troy," Leah Gallegos said during the press briefing. "They had a family planned." "I just know that I sure miss this girl every day. I wonder about the kids that she would have, and I watch other people with their daughters, their grandkids," she said. "They took so much away when they took her away." Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd credited the "determination of our homicide detectives" and the advances in forensic technology in allowing them to solve the case. "I just want to reiterate our commitment to solving cold cases," he said during the briefing. Cold case murder solved 40 years after Utah teenager killed after hitchhiking to work: Police originally appeared on
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Pierce County deputies ask for help solving 30 year old murder mystery
The Brief Detectives in Pierce County are calling on the public's help to solve a nearly 30-year-old murder mystery. Laurie Krage, whose remains were recently identified through genetic genealogy, and its believed she did not die from natural causes. PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - Pierce County Sheriff's detectives are asking for your help to solve a nearly 30-year-old murder mystery. The backstory Laurie Krage was last known to be alive in January 1996. A mushroom picker found her remains on October 13, 1997 off Gale Creek Road about 9 miles from Wilkeson Elementary School, south of Buckley. Her remains were recently identified by Othram Labs using genetic genealogy. "There's enough evidence from the remains to show it was not a natural cause of death," said Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Carly Cappetto. Detectives are in touch with her living relatives, but it's still unclear why Laurie was never reported missing. Her maiden name is Lester. She married Ronald Martin in 1995. He died of natural causes in 2020. Laurie was known to visit Lakewood, Kent and the Emerald Queen area. The answer to how she died could come from a tip on how she lived. "If anybody has known her or they knew her in the past, what her life was like, we're starting from the very bottom to find out who she was, where she liked to frequent, or where she stayed and lived," said Deputy Cappetto. Deputies are seeking information about Krage and her late husband, Ronald Martin, between the years 1995 and 1997. If you knew her or have any information, call the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at (253) 287-4455. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County through the P3 Tips App on your cell phone or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). The Source Information in this story is from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Missing WA grandmother's remains found buried under shed These 2 WA trails rank among best in US, new study finds Reddit: Seattle crosswalk hacked with voice message mocking Jeff Bezos 37 earthquakes recorded in Okanogan County, WA, over the past week Auburn, WA business employee, co-owner speak out after building burns during police search Comedian Jeff Dunham previews his upcoming Tacoma Dome show Seattle woman arrested for pit bull attacks: 'Let him do his thing' To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
