By Trend News Line 2024-02-09 18:35:37.
Decades-Old Cold Case of Rape and Murder Finally Solved Through DNA
In a breakthrough development, police have identified Fred Bernard Farnham as the suspect in the cold case killings of Nellie Hicks in 1972 and Theresa Pica in 1979. The Newark Police Department and Hayward Police Department made the announcement in recent news releases, stating that DNA evidence has helped solve these heinous crimes.
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The case of Nellie Hicks dates back to May 1972 when she was brutally attacked inside her Newark home while her family members were asleep. The 59-year-old was found dead by her son, who discovered her lifeless body inside their home. The autopsy revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and died from blunt force trauma. Despite decades of investigation, the case went cold due to the lack of DNA technology at the time.
Similarly, in May 1979, Theresa Pica was found dead in her Hayward home by her three children. The crime scene was described as disturbing, with Pica also having been sexually assaulted and killed. The suspect likely entered the home through an open window or unlocked door. Like Hicks’s case, DNA evidence was collected but was unable to be tested due to the absence of technology.
Thanks to advancements in DNA technology and the establishment of the Combined DNA Index System, the suspect’s DNA profile was finally tested. However, initial attempts did not yield any matches. Determined to solve the case, Hayward police turned to forensic genetic genealogy in 2021. Othram Inc., a forensic genetic genealogy company, created a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect, which was then used to identify Fred Bernard Farnham as the perpetrator of both Hicks’s and Pica’s murders.
Unfortunately, Farnham passed away in 2007, but his identification as the suspect brings closure to the families of the victims. It is believed that Farnham could have had additional victims, and law enforcement agencies with similar cases are urged to come forward.
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The identification of the suspect after more than four decades is a testament to the tireless efforts of investigators and the advancement of DNA technology. While the revelation may trigger painful memories for the families involved, it also brings a sense of relief and closure. The resolution of these cold cases serves as a reminder that justice can prevail, even after many years have passed..
– Women raped and found dead by their children in the ’70s
– CA cops identify suspect in cases of women raped and found dead in the ’70s.
