Miramar, Florida—A cold case murder from 1986 that puzzled the Miramar Police Department for decades has finally reached a resolution, thanks to modern DNA technology and persistent detective work. The murder victim, William “Billy” Halpern, a former firefighter and avid bodybuilder, was found brutally murdered in his own home on October 21, 1986.
Halpern, then 28 years old, was known in his community for his physical fitness and work ethic, employed at a local gym in Hollywood, Florida. For years, his violent death rocked the quiet community and left a gaping wound in the town’s sense of security.
The case remained unsolved until new DNA technologies provided investigators with the means to analyze several partial DNA profiles, which had been unavailable at the time of the initial investigation. This breakthrough led to a poignant development earlier this year when the cold case was reopened.
Detective Danny Smith of the Miramar Police Department spearheaded the revival of the investigation, utilizing these partial DNA profiles to build a database that could potentially link suspects to the unsolved crime. This January, significant strides were made as investigators matched DNA from the crime scene to one Harrier Collier, a local man now deceased.
Following the DNA breakthrough, Detective Smith held a press conference announcing that if Collier were alive, he would face charges for Halpern’s murder. The detective’s diligent efforts also included reaching out to the community for additional information, prompting several tips that further connected Collier to the case.
This turn of events suggests Halpern may have been murdered after accidentally uncovering confidential information that his killer wanted to keep hidden. The investigation illuminated connections to other unsolved murders in the area, including a double homicide near the gym where Halpern worked.
The owner of this gym, Gil Fernandez, a former Miami-Dade police officer and fellow bodybuilder, was previously a suspect in Halpern’s case. Although he was not tied to this crime with DNA evidence, he was later sentenced to life in prison for an unrelated murder, reinforcing his connections to criminal activities in the area.
Detective Smith noted eerily similar patterns between the crime scenes of Halpern’s murder and the double homicide, suggesting a serial element to the killings that centered around the gym community.
The resolution of Billy Halpern’s murder brings some solace to a community that has long awaited answers, serving as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement, no matter how much time has passed. While this case marks a significant breakthrough, the investigation is ongoing as detectives pursue other potential suspects who may have been involved in or ordered the killing.
As part of their continued efforts, local authorities encourage anyone with more information to come forward and assist in the closure of this chapter of Miramar’s history. Individuals can contact Broward County Crime Stoppers anonymously with any details that might aid in resolving the lingering mysteries of this and potentially other related cases.