Suspect Charged in 35-Year-Old Charlotte Murder Case

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Police in Charlotte, North Carolina have charged 63-year-old Marion Gales with first-degree murder in connection to the 1990 killing of Kim Thomas Friedland. Friedland's husband Edward called police on July 27, 1990 to report that someone had killed his wife. After an autopsy, Friedland's death was ruled a homicide, but the case went cold for over three decades until new DNA evidence linked Gales to the crime.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of advancements in DNA technology and the ability of law enforcement to revisit unsolved cold cases, even decades later. It also underscores the lasting trauma and impact on families when a loved one is murdered and the perpetrator remains at large for an extended period.

The details

On July 27, 1990, police received a call from Edward Friedland reporting that someone had killed his wife Kim Thomas Friedland. An autopsy ruled her death a homicide, but the case went unsolved for 35 years. On February 17, 2026, detectives linked Marion Gales, now 63 years old, to the murder after receiving a DNA lab report containing new information from analyzing existing evidence and using advanced technology.

• On July 27, 1990, police received a call about Kim Thomas Friedland's murder.
• An autopsy ruled Friedland's death a homicide following the July 27, 1990 incident.
• On February 17, 2026, detectives linked Marion Gales to the 1990 murder using new DNA evidence.

What’s next

Gales remains in custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.