DNA helps Illinois police make breakthrough in 1970s cold case murder of 19-year-old

Suspected 1970s serial slayer Bruce Lindahl has been identified arsenic the culprit successful a 1979 acold lawsuit execution through DNA evidence, Illinois authorities announced Wednesday.

In a astonishing crook of events, the covering 19-year-old Kathy Halle was wearing astatine the clip of her mysterious disappearance March 29, 1979, has been linked to Lindahl. 

North Aurora Police Det. Ryan Peat said astatine a quality league that, connected the nighttime of her disappearance, Halle near her flat to prime up her sister astatine the Northgate Shopping Center successful Aurora, Illinois, but she ne'er returned. Her assemblage was recovered successful a stream respective weeks later.

The case stayed cold for decades, until advancements of DNA investigating prompted investigators to reopen the case.

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This undated record photograph provided by the Lisle, Ill., Police Department shows Bruce Lindahl.  (Lisle Police Department via AP)

In 2019, Peat said, constabulary successful adjacent Lisle, Illinois, reopened the 1976 execution lawsuit of 16-year-old Pamela Maurer and utilized DNA to nexus Lindahl to the slaying.

In 2020, North Aurora detectives met with the Lisle Police Department, and grounds was scrutinized from Halle's lawsuit and sent for further testing, Peat said. The detective shared that the DNA was excessively degraded for a wide decision that Lindahl was responsible.

In 2022, the North Aurora Police Department learned that determination was a container of grounds with Lindahl's belongings astatine the constabulary section successful Naperville, Illinois. Peat said that grounds showed that Lindahl often visited wherever Halle worked.

Peat said helium turned to a caller DNA tool, the "M-Vac," which tin assistance successful collecting DNA from older cases.

In August, results showed that Lindahl's DNA was recovered connected Halle's clothing. Investigators concluded that she was taken from her location and murdered that nighttime successful March 1979.

In March 1979, Kathy Halle disappeared en way to prime up her sister. (FOX 32)

"This was a agelong and challenging investigation, but contiguous we’re capable to springiness the Halle household the answers they’ve waited decades for," Peat said.

Lindahl, who is believed to person killed arsenic galore arsenic a twelve women and girls, died successful April 1981 portion stabbing a antheral to decease successful Naperville. During the struggle, Lindahl someway stabbed himself successful a femoral artery. His assemblage was recovered atop the victim’s.

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If Lindahl were inactive alive, helium would person been charged successful Halle's execution based connected the caller evidence, according to State's Attorney Jamie Mosser. 

"This lawsuit would person been charged successful a tribunal of instrumentality had Bruce Lindahl not died successful 1981. His signifier of violence, combined with the DNA grounds we present have, leaves nary uncertainty that helium was liable for Kathy’s tragic death. While we cannot prosecute Lindahl, the household present knows the truth, and justness — though delayed — has yet been served for Kathy," Mosser said during the property briefing.

Detective Ryan Peat said the DNA contiguous connected Halle's covering matched Lindahl's. (FOX 32)

Halle’s household said successful a connection that revisiting the lawsuit had been difficult, but they are grateful to person closure aft 45 years.

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"Thanks to advancements successful DNA exertion and groundbreaking investigative tools, we are hopeful that different families won’t person to endure the aforesaid symptom and uncertainty that we faced for truthful galore years," the household said. "We widen our heartfelt acknowledgment to the North Aurora Police Department and each the agencies and organizations progressive for their dedication, persistence, and for ne'er giving up, adjacent erstwhile the likelihood seemed impossible."

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the North Aurora Police Department for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.