By Trend News Line 2024-05-10 18:58:12.
The Cold Case Murder of Maria Loraine Honzell: A 50-Year Mystery Solved
After nearly five decades, the Colorado Springs police Department has finally identified a suspect in the 1977 fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Maria Loraine Honzell. The case, which had gone cold for years, has now been closed with the revelation that William Charles Kernan, Jr., also known as Bill Kernan, was responsible for the tragic murder.
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The Tragic Night of Feb. 7, 1977
Maria Loraine Honzell was babysitting her neighbor’s two children at the Suncrest Apartments off of North Nevada on the fateful night of Feb. 7, 1977. The young babysitter was found stabbed multiple times by her female neighbor, who had hired her for the evening. The neighbor’s children, aged 6 and 8, were asleep in bed when the horrific discovery was made. Despite being present during the murder, the children were unharmed.
A Long Wait for Justice
Maria’s family and friends had waited over 47 years for answers and closure in her case. The Colorado Springs Police Department expressed pride in finally being able to provide justice for Maria and her loved ones after years of relentless analysis and investigation.
A Break in the Case
Investigators collected crucial evidence at the scene, including a bloodstain on Maria’s jumpsuit that yielded a male DNA profile. However, the case went cold as authorities struggled to identify a suspect. It wasn’t until 2019 when the male DNA profile was compared with samples in a public genetic genealogy database that a breakthrough was made.
The Identification of William Charles Kernan, Jr.
With the help of Parabon NanoLabs, authorities found a match for the DNA profile in Kernan. Unfortunately, Kernan had passed away in 2010, and with no living relatives to collect his DNA from, the case took a bittersweet turn. Kernan, a student at a local college and an acquaintance of the family Maria was babysitting for, was confidently identified as the perpetrator of the heinous crime.
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Closure for Maria Honzell
The Colorado Springs Police Department has now officially closed the case, firmly believing that Kernan was responsible for Maria’s murder. While justice may have been delayed, it has finally been served for the teenage babysitter who lost her life in a senseless act of violence.
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Original article: Read the full story on People.
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1. Teen babysitter killed decades ago
2. Police identify killer and his connection to family.
