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5 clusters · 18 sources · 14 days · First seen · Last updated

Identification of suspect in 1960 Gloria Kowalewicz murder

Overview

Authorities have identified Thomas Francis McInerney Jr. as the suspect in the 1960 murder of eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz. The case had remained unsolved for over 65 years.

Kowalewicz disappeared on November 12, 1960, while walking from her West Englewood home to a nearby church. Her body was subsequently found in a ravine or ditch with two gunshot wounds to the head and bruises on her neck. Although the original investigation involved extensive searches, thousands of interviews, and polygraph tests on over a dozen suspects, no suspect was ever identified.

A breakthrough was achieved through the use of advanced DNA analysis, fingerprint reconstruction, and genetic genealogy. The FBI and Chicago police were able to link DNA profiles found on the victim’s clothing to McInerney by using data from a consumer family-tree website. At the time of the crime, McInerney was 24 years old and lived near the victim; he later served as a Chicago police detective for 28 years. He eventually retired and moved to Las Vegas, where he died in 2006 at the age of 70.

Investigators noted that key evidence preserved by the Chicago Cold Case unit was instrumental in the resolution. This evidence included a bullet, the victim’s clothing, and a small white purse containing a prayer book. Following the identification, the FBI has become involved to determine if McInerney is linked to any other unsolved cases.

Entities

Chicago Police Department · Gloria Kowalewicz · FBI · Chicago · Thomas Francis McInerney

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Chicago police identify suspect in 65-year-old cold case murder

    DNA technology and genealogy research have identified a former police detective as the suspect in the 1960 murder of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz in Chicago.

  2. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Chicago police identify former detective as killer in 1960 child murder

    Chicago police identified former detective Thomas McInerney as the killer of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz, solving a 65-year-old cold case through DNA and fingerprint technology.

  3. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Chicago police solve 1960 murder of Gloria Kowalewicz

    Chicago investigators have used DNA and a decades-old fingerprint to solve the 1960 murder of eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz, closing a cold case that remained unsolved for 66 years.

  4. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Chicago police detective identified as killer in 1960 girl's murder

    After 66 years, DNA evidence has identified Thomas Francis McInerney Jr., a former Chicago police detective, as the killer of eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz in 1960.

  5. [CRIME] 7 sources
    Chicago detective identified as killer in 1960 child murder

    DNA technology and genetic genealogy have identified former Chicago homicide detective Thomas Francis McInerney as the killer in the 1960 murder of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz.

Sources

Aktualne.cz · bild.de · blesk.cz · blikk.hu · femina.hu · hellwegeranzeiger.de · internewscast.com · medium.seznam.cz · n1info.si · nbcnews.com · newsday.com · nypost.com · okmagazine.com · policeone.com · spravy.pravda.sk · ta3.com · toysforlife.co.nz · wdio.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history