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For nearly 50 years, the mystery surrounding the death of a young girl in Colorado Springs haunted investigators and left a family yearning for answers.
Maria Loraine Honzell, just 14 years old, was tragically stabbed to death in 1977.
Despite a thorough investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) struggled to identify a suspect.
The case began with a chilling call – a possible suicide.
But upon arrival, officers found a grim reality.
Maria had suffered multiple stab wounds, and an autopsy confirmed it was a murder, not a self-inflicted tragedy.
Investigators discovered that Maria was babysitting for a neighbor's child at the time of the attack.
For decades, the case remained cold.
Traditional investigation methods yielded no leads.
However, with the rise of DNA testing and advancements in genealogy research, a glimmer of hope emerged.
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In 2019, CSPD decided to revisit the evidence.
They partnered with a genetic genealogy lab to analyze blood samples collected from Maria's clothing, meticulously preserved throughout the years.
This technology, according to CSPD, can provide valuable clues about the identity of unknown individuals involved in a crime.
The lab compared the DNA profile to a public genetic genealogy database, searching for potential familial matches.
These matches then became stepping stones for traditional investigative work.
Researchers combed through public family trees, historical newspaper archives, and official records, slowly piecing together the puzzle.
This painstaking effort led them to William "Bill" Charles Kernan Jr.
While Kernan passed away in 2010, making DNA confirmation impossible, the investigation revealed a crucial detail – Kernan was a local college student at the time of the murder.
Disturbingly, he was also acquainted with the family Maria was babysitting for.
For Maria's loved ones, the news brought a bittersweet mix of relief and sorrow.
"The family and friends of Maria Honzell have waited over forty-seven years for justice for Maria," stated CSPD in a press release. "Through years of analysis and investigation, CSPD is proud to finally provide answers to Maria's loved ones."
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