Скачать или смотреть SLOTH: Richard John Davis (with guest Kasia Earley)

Ashley Willcott reviews a decades-old cold case from Sacramento, California, involved the brutal 1970 murder of 28-year-old Nancy Bennallack, a court reporter. She was found stabbed to death in her apartment, and the crime remained unsolved for over 50 years, leaving her family and the community in a state of prolonged anguish.

For many years, law enforcement worked on the case, and in 2004 a DNA profile was developed from blood left at the crime scene. However, searches within the CODIS DNA database yielded no matches, and the case remained cold.

Renewed efforts in 2019 saw investigators turn to forensic genetic genealogy (FGG). This technique, involving the use of public genealogical databases, allowed them to trace the DNA profile to potential relatives of the perpetrator. After extensive genealogical research, they identified Richard John Davis, who had lived in the same apartment complex as Bennallack at the time of her murder.

Although Davis had died in 1997, DNA from a family member confirmed his identity as the killer. While no legal justice could be served due to his death, the resolution of the case brought a sense of closure to Bennallack's family.

The successful resolution of the Nancy Bennallack case highlights the increasing power of forensic genetic genealogy in solving cold cases, and the persistent work of law enforcement.

In our breakdown segment, Ashley is joined by Kasia Earley to dissect the case.