DNA from cigarette butt solves 52-year-old murder case
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.
DeRoos lived in Curran's apartment building at the time of her murder, police said, and died of a drug overdose in 1986.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We're all confident that William DeRoos is responsible for the aggravated murder of Rita Curran," Burlington Police Detective Lt. James Trieb said, but he added that "because he died in a hotel room of a drug overdose, he will not be held accountable for his actions, but this case will be closed."
According to a Burlington investigation report obtained by CNN, DeRoos, "who lived with his wife two floors above Curran, had a fight with his spouse and left their apartment to 'cool down.'" Curran was later found dead, having been beaten severely.
While the case remained cold for years, Trieb said that a break finally came in 2014 when the DNA was extracted from the nearby cigarette butt. USA Today reported that a lab in Florida was finally able to match the cigarette to DeRoos from a DNA database in 2022.
"I don't think so much about the guy who did this as I do about Rita, my parents, and what they went through," Curran's brother Tom said, per The Associated Press. "I pray to Rita and I pray to my parents."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
5 deliciously funny cartoons about turkeys
Cartoons Artists take on pardons, executions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
DOJ demands changes at 'abhorrent' Atlanta jail
Speed Read Georgia's Fulton County Jail subjects inmates to 'unconstitutional' conditions, the 16-month investigation found
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
China tries to bury deadly car attack
Speed Read An SUV drove into a crowd of people in Zhuhai, killing and injuring dozens — but news of the attack has been censored
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Menendez brothers may go free in LA prosecutor plan
Speed Read Prosecutors are asking for the brothers to be resentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Abercrombie ex-CEO charged with sex crimes
Speed Read Mike Jeffries ran the brand during its heyday from 1992 to 2014
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
India doctors' strike: rape and murder of student triggers widespread protests
The Explainer Nationwide outrage at a brutal attack on a female medical student raises familiar problems for country
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Why has a Romanian prince gone fugitive?
Under The Radar Paul of Romania is wanted for his role in plot to reclaim royal lands
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Can Starmer's plan solve the prisons crisis?
Today's Big Question Releasing inmates early is 'least worst option' to tackle overcrowding, but critics say it puts public at risk
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Alec Baldwin on trial over on-set Rust shooting death
In the Spotlight Hollywood actor denies involuntary manslaughter charge in fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published