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'Science will catch up': 1981 cold case still haunts retired CMPD detective


Published on 2025-04-25 23:22:11 - WSOC
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  • Darrell Price is retired and hasn't worked as a cold case detective with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in nearly two years.

The article from Yahoo News discusses a breakthrough in a 1981 cold case involving the murder of 14-year-old Shelley Connolly in Alaska. Advanced DNA technology and genetic genealogy have been pivotal in identifying the suspect, a man who was 24 at the time of the crime and died in 1984. The suspect's identity was confirmed through DNA extracted from Connolly's body, which matched a sample from the suspect's exhumed body. This case marks the first time genetic genealogy has been used to solve a case in Alaska, highlighting the potential of this technology in solving cold cases. The investigation involved collaboration between the Alaska State Troopers, the Anchorage Police Department, and private DNA labs, showcasing the importance of inter-agency cooperation in leveraging new scientific methods to bring closure to long-unsolved cases.

Read the Full WSOC Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/science-catch-1981-cold-case-013000198.html ]