1964 Murder of 12-Year-Old Mary Simpson Solved After 60 Years

Police name suspect in cold case using DNA evidence

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The 1964 murder of 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson in Elmira, New York has been solved after 60 years. Simpson's beaten and abused body was found four days after she went missing while walking home from a relative's house. Thanks to exceptional police work in 1964 and advanced DNA analysis by Othram, a suspect has now been named in the long-cold case.

Why it matters

The successful resolution of this decades-old cold case demonstrates the power of modern forensic science to crack even the most challenging unsolved crimes. It also provides closure for the Simpson family after 60 years of unanswered questions about their daughter's tragic death.

The details

In March 1964, 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson vanished while walking home from a relative's house in Elmira, New York. Her body was found four days later in a wooded area, having suffered severe beatings and abuse. Despite extensive investigation at the time, police were unable to identify a suspect. However, evidence collected in 1964 was recently re-examined using advanced DNA analysis by the company Othram, leading to the identification of a suspect after six decades.

  • Mary Simpson, 12, went missing on March 15, 1964.
  • Her body was found four days later, on March 19, 1964.
  • The case went unsolved for 60 years until a suspect was identified in 2026.

The players

Mary Theresa Simpson

A 12-year-old girl who was the victim of a brutal murder in 1964.

Othram

A forensic DNA analysis company that helped crack the cold case using advanced techniques.

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What they’re saying

“This case demonstrates the power of modern forensic science to solve even the most challenging unsolved crimes, no matter how much time has passed.”

— Joseph Scott Morgan, Crime Analyst (crimeonline.com)

What’s next

Police are expected to provide more details on the suspect and the investigation in the coming days.

The takeaway

The successful resolution of this 60-year-old cold case through advanced DNA analysis provides hope that other unsolved crimes from decades past can also be cracked, bringing closure to victims' families and holding perpetrators accountable no matter how much time has elapsed.