DNA helps Illinois police make breakthrough in 1970s cold case murder of 19-year-old

Suspected 1970s serial slayer Bruce Lindahl has been identified arsenic nan culprit successful a 1979 acold lawsuit execution through DNA evidence, Illinois authorities announced Wednesday.

In a astonishing move of events, nan clothing 19-year-old Kathy Halle was wearing astatine nan clip of her mysterious disappearance March 29, 1979, has been linked to Lindahl. 

North Aurora Police Det. Ryan Peat said astatine a news convention that, connected nan nighttime of her disappearance, Halle near her flat to prime up her sister astatine nan Northgate Shopping Center successful Aurora, Illinois, but she ne'er returned. Her assemblage was recovered successful a stream respective weeks later.

The case stayed cold for decades, until advancements of DNA testing prompted investigators to reopen nan case.

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This undated record photograph provided by nan Lisle, Ill., Police Department shows Bruce Lindahl.  (Lisle Police Department via AP)

In 2019, Peat said, constabulary successful adjacent Lisle, Illinois, reopened nan 1976 execution lawsuit of 16-year-old Pamela Maurer and utilized DNA to nexus Lindahl to nan slaying.

In 2020, North Aurora detectives met pinch nan Lisle Police Department, and grounds was scrutinized from Halle's lawsuit and sent for further testing, Peat said. The detective shared that nan DNA was excessively degraded for a clear conclusion that Lindahl was responsible.

In 2022, nan North Aurora Police Department learned that location was a container of grounds pinch Lindahl's belongings astatine nan constabulary section successful Naperville, Illinois. Peat said that grounds showed that Lindahl often visited wherever Halle worked.

Peat said he turned to a caller DNA tool, nan "M-Vac," which tin assistance successful collecting DNA from older cases.

In August, results showed that Lindahl's DNA was recovered connected Halle's clothing. Investigators concluded that she was taken from her location and murdered that nighttime successful March 1979.

In March 1979, Kathy Halle vanished en way to prime up her sister. (FOX 32)

"This was a agelong and challenging investigation, but coming we’re capable to springiness nan Halle family nan answers they’ve waited decades for," Peat said.

Lindahl, who is believed to person killed arsenic galore arsenic a twelve women and girls, died successful April 1981 while stabbing a man to decease successful Naperville. During nan struggle, Lindahl someway stabbed himself successful a femoral artery. His assemblage was recovered atop nan victim’s.

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If Lindahl were still alive, he would person been charged successful Halle's execution based connected nan caller evidence, according to State's Attorney Jamie Mosser. 

"This lawsuit would person been charged successful a tribunal of rule had Bruce Lindahl not died successful 1981. His shape of violence, mixed pinch nan DNA grounds we now have, leaves nary uncertainty that he was responsible for Kathy’s tragic death. While we cannot prosecute Lindahl, nan family now knows nan truth, and justness — though delayed — has yet been served for Kathy," Mosser said during nan property briefing.

Detective Ryan Peat said nan DNA coming connected Halle's clothing matched Lindahl's. (FOX 32)

Halle’s family said successful a connection that revisiting nan lawsuit had been difficult, but they are grateful to person closure aft 45 years.

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"Thanks to advancements successful DNA exertion and groundbreaking investigative tools, we are hopeful that different families won’t person to strengthen nan aforesaid symptom and uncertainty that we faced for truthful galore years," nan family said. "We widen our heartfelt acknowledgment to nan North Aurora Police Department and each nan agencies and organizations progressive for their dedication, persistence, and for ne'er giving up, moreover erstwhile nan likelihood seemed impossible."

Fox News Digital has reached retired to nan North Aurora Police Department for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.