DNA from cigarette butt solves 52-year-old murder case

A press conference in Burlington, Vermont, on the death of Rita Curran.
(Image credit: Wilson Ring/AP Photo)

More than half a century after a Vermont woman's murder, DNA from a discarded cigarette butt found near her body has finally identified her killer, officials said Tuesday.

The Burlington Police Department announced during a press conference that they had solved the death of Rita Curran, a 24-year-old schoolteacher who was murdered in her apartment in 1971. Police said that DNA found on the cigarette butt was matched to Curran's clothing, and after 52 years, her killer was conclusively identified as William DeRoos.

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.