Elmira Police Identifies Suspect in 1964 Murder

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The Elmira Police Department has announced the closure of a decades-old cold case, identifying Alfred R. Murry Jr. as the suspect in the 1964 murder of Mary Theresa Simpson. Advancements in DNA technology and investigative genetic genealogy allowed authorities to connect Murry, who died in 2004, to the crime scene evidence.

Why it matters

This case highlights the power of modern forensic science to solve even the oldest unsolved crimes. It also demonstrates the Elmira Police Department's commitment to pursuing justice for victims, no matter how much time has passed.

The details

Simpson was reported missing on March 15, 1964, and her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area. No arrests were ever made in the case until now. In 2023, evidence from the crime scene was sent to a DNA lab in Texas, where scientists were able to recover usable DNA and create a genetic profile believed to belong to the killer. This DNA evidence was found to match Alfred R. Murry Jr., an Elmira resident who passed away in 2004.

• Mary Theresa Simpson was reported missing on March 15, 1964.
• Simpson's body was discovered four days later on March 19, 1964.
• In 2023, evidence from the crime scene was sent to a DNA lab in Texas.
• In late 2024, investigators were able to identify Alfred R. Murry Jr. as the suspect through DNA evidence.