12-Year-Old’s Murder Solved After 62 Years

After 62 years of waiting, a 12-year-old girl’s brutal 1964 murder has finally been solved through cutting-edge DNA technology, proving that no cold case is ever truly forgotten when dedicated law enforcement refuses to give up.

Story Highlights

Mary Theresa Simpson was sexually assaulted and strangled in 1964, her body found four days after disappearing while walking home in Elmira, New York
Advanced DNA testing by Othram and FBI genetic genealogy identified a deceased suspect after evidence sat unusable for over two decades
The breakthrough marks the 18th New York cold case solved by Othram’s technology, funded by Season of Justice nonprofit grants
Suspect’s name to be revealed at February 10, 2026 press conference, bringing closure to family after six decades

Decades-Old Evidence Finally Yields Answers

Mary Theresa Simpson vanished on March 15, 1964, while walking home from relatives near East Market and Harriet Streets in Elmira, New York. Her father reported her missing that evening. Four days later, hikers discovered her body in a wooded area near Combs Hill Road in Southport, partially concealed under debris and stones. The 12-year-old had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and her mouth stuffed with twigs and dirt. Despite hundreds of interviews, the case went cold as forensic capabilities in the 1960s couldn’t identify the killer.

Modern Technology Revives Dormant Investigation

DNA from Mary’s blouse was identified by the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center in 2000, but the evidence remained unusable until recent technological advances. The Elmira Police Department reopened the case in 2022-2023 after securing grants from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to solving violent cold cases. In February 2023, evidence was submitted to Othram Inc., a Texas-based forensic laboratory specializing in Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing. The technology successfully developed a suspect DNA profile from the degraded 59-year-old evidence, overcoming obstacles that stymied previous attempts.

Multi-Agency Collaboration Cracks Unsolvable Case

The breakthrough required unprecedented cooperation between local, federal, and academic partners. The FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team generated investigative leads from Othram’s DNA profile, ultimately confirming a deceased suspect. The Criminal Investigation Resource Center at Russell Sage College, under Dr. Christina Lane’s direction, assisted since 2023 with case organization, digitization, crime scene surveys, and suspect reviews. This collaborative approach exemplifies how persistent law enforcement combined with private sector innovation can deliver justice even when perpetrators escape prosecution through death. Forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan credited both the meticulous 1964 police work and Othram’s exceptional science for the resolution.

Justice Delayed But Not Denied for Simpson Family

The Chemung County District Attorney’s Office scheduled a February 10, 2026 press conference to publicly reveal the suspect’s identity. While the deceased perpetrator will never face trial, the identification provides long-awaited answers for Mary’s surviving family members and the Elmira community. This case represents the 18th New York cold case solved by Othram’s technology, validating the investment in advanced forensic methods. The resolution demonstrates that even America’s oldest violent crimes can be solved when communities refuse to forget victims and allocate resources to cutting-edge investigative tools that honor both justice and the constitutional duty to protect innocent lives.

COLD CASE SOLVED! 1964 Murder of Mary Simpson, 12: Killer Named After 60 Years! https://t.co/LBLf3a8zGH via @crimeonlinenews #bodybags

— Crime Online (@crimeonlinenews) February 10, 2026

The success may prompt reviews of similar decades-old cases across New York and nationwide, offering hope to families still seeking closure. Grant funding from organizations like Season of Justice proves essential for cash-strapped departments lacking budgets for expensive genetic testing. As forensic technology continues advancing, the message to criminals is clear: time and death no longer guarantee escape from accountability for heinous acts against children and families.