An Oregon man has been found guilty of murder in the 1978 killing of a teenage girl in Alaska, thanks to the use of genetic genealogy. Donald McQuade, 67, was convicted in state court in Anchorage for the murder of Shelley Connolly, 16. Connolly’s body was discovered near a highway pullout between Anchorage and Girdwood. The sentencing is scheduled for April 26.
Alaska State Troopers had initially developed a DNA profile from swabs collected from Connolly’s body but failed to find a match. However, in 2019, they turned to genetic genealogy testing and were able to obtain a DNA sample from McQuade that matched the DNA found on Connolly’s body. McQuade was living in Alaska at the time of Connolly’s death.
Randy McPherron, an Alaska State Troopers investigator, who came out of retirement to lead the case, stated that they used traditional police work to determine if McQuade was living in Alaska and had access to commit the crime. Various databases and records confirmed that McQuade was in Anchorage four days before the murder occurred, strengthening their case against him.
McQuade’s trial was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic after his arrest in 2019. During the trial, the prosecutor focused on the evidence from Connolly’s body. McQuade’s defense attorney, Kyle Barber, argued that the DNA evidence was the only evidence against his client. He also mentioned the discovery of DNA evidence potentially linked to two other individuals.
Public Defender Benjamin Dresner plans to appeal the case. However, McPherron expressed gratitude for the breakthrough provided by new technology, stating that genetic genealogy has been a game-changer in solving cold cases. He also highlighted the advancements in forensic DNA technology over the past few decades, noting that the outcome of the case could have been different if such technology existed in the 1970s.,
In a significant breakthrough, an Oregon man has been convicted of murder after a DNA match linked him to the unsolved case of a teenage girl found dead in Alaska 45 years ago. The victim, a 17-year-old girl, was discovered in a remote area with no leads or suspects at the time. However, advancements in forensic technology allowed investigators to re-examine the evidence and extract DNA from the crime scene. This DNA was finally matched to the Oregon man, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction. The long-awaited justice in this cold case serves as a testament to the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies in pursuing justice, even decades after a crime has been committed.
