Cold Archives - The American Retiree

California Cold Case Breakthrough: Woman Pleads Not Guilty in 1987 Newborn Murder Case

Riverside, CA — Nearly four decades after a tragic event in which a newborn was found dead in a dumpster, a North Carolina woman has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of murder. The case, which remained unsolved for years, has seen new developments thanks to advances in DNA technology and dedicated cold case detectives. The woman identified as Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina, was arrested following rigorous investigation …

Breakthrough in 2001 Cold Case: Last Witness to See Victim Alive Found by Police

Youngstown, Ohio — In a recent breakthrough, Youngstown police revisited an unsolved 2001 homicide case and successfully located a witness who was the last known person to see the victim alive. This development offers a new lead in a case that has puzzled investigators for over two decades. The cold case in question involves the killing of a local resident whose life was brutally cut short, leaving the community and the victim’s family seeking answers …

Decades-Old Cold Case Cracked: Idaho Man Arrested for 1973 California Murder Following DNA Breakthrough

BOISE, Idaho – A breakthrough in a long-cold case has led to the arrest of a 75-year-old Idaho man for the unsolved murder of a California woman dating back to 1973, authorities announced. Advances in DNA technology allowed investigators to link Michael Eugene Mullen to the murder of Nina “Nadine” Fischer, who was found dead in her San Rafael home nearly 50 years ago. Mullen was taken into custody near his residence in Salmon, Idaho, …

Decades-Old Cold Case Solved: DNA Links Convicted Serial Killer to 1986 Murder of Young Mother

South Pasadena, Calif. – A three-decade-old murder case, previously unsolved and cold, witnessed a significant breakthrough tying it to a notorious serial killer in Riverside County. Authorities announced the linkage on Tuesday, solving the haunting murder of 19-year-old Cathy Ann Small whose life ended tragically in 1986. The body of Cathy Ann Small was discovered on a road in South Pasadena on Feb. 22, 1986, clothed only in a nightgown, having suffered stab wounds and …

Former Trucker Arrested for 1977 Cold Case Murders of Three California Women

Ventura, Calif. — A former long-haul trucker has been accused of the 1977 murders of three women in Ventura County, making a grim chapter in a cold case that has puzzled authorities for decades. Warren Luther Alexander, 73, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder after new evidence linked him to these decades-old crimes. In 1977, the bodies of Kimberly Fritz, 18, Lorraine Rodriguez, 21, and Velvet Sanchez, 31, were discovered in separate …

Breakthrough in 2014 Cold Case: Houston Man Charged with Murder of His Mother

Houston, Texas — A Houston man has been charged with the murder of his mother, who was found dead nearly a decade ago, authorities said Tuesday. The arrest marks a breakthrough in a cold case that has puzzled investigators since 2014. In November 2014, Carolyn Bryant, 63, was discovered deceased in her Houston home under suspicious circumstances. Initial investigations did not lead to any charges, leaving the case unresolved for years. Recent advancements in forensic …

After Decades, Justice Served: DNA Solves 1979 Cold Case of D.C. Mother’s Murder and Rape

Washington, D.C. — A long-unsolved crime that haunted a Maryland community has finally reached a resolution. After more than four decades, Andre Taylor, a Washington, D.C. resident, was convicted of the 1979 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Vickie Lynn Belk, a case that puzzled investigators for years. Vickie Lynn Belk was a 28-year-old mother working in Washington, D.C. and living in Suitland, Maryland. On August 27, 1979, she vanished after leaving her workplace, setting off …

Revealed: A Bite Mark Unmasks a Killer Within the Ranks in 1985 Cold Case

Los Angeles, CA – In early 1985, Sherri Rasmussen, a vibrant nurse in Southern California, had recently embarked on what seemed to be the happiest phase of her life after marrying John Ruetten, an engineer whom she had met at a party. However, just three months into their marriage, a grim tragedy struck that would take decades to fully unravel. On February 26, 198oze5, Rasmussen did not show up for her job as the director …

Decades-Old Florida Cold Case Solved: DNA Evidence Identifies Killer of Former Firefighter

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 …

Gun Robbery Turned Deadly: Killer Admits Guilt in Cold Case Murder of Delaware Man

Wilmington, Delaware – Nearly five years after Hakeem Smalls was robbed of his gun and fatally shot, his killer has confessed to the crime. Dashawn Daley pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024, to charges of second-degree murder and a weapons offense in connection to the September 2019 incident. Authorities revealed that Smalls was held at gunpoint and robbed in the vicinity of 25th and Monroe streets. During the robbery, his legally-purchased firearm was stolen, and …