New DNA technology, "touch DNA," Brings Justice for Murder Victim and Leads to Arrest in 1989 Pennsylvania Homicide
The brutal murder of Rose Hnath, a 78-year-old widow in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, back in 1989, has haunted her family and the community for far too long.
But this week, an arrest was made, bringing a glimmer of hope and a chance for closure.
The key to unlocking this cold case was a revolutionary forensic technique called "touch DNA."
Imagine leaving a tiny fingerprint behind – not the kind with visible ridges, but a trace of genetic material left behind simply by touching a surface.
This can happen on doorknobs, light switches, or even steering wheels.
Incredibly, even though touch DNA wasn't a concept back in 1989, investigators back then had the foresight to carefully preserve evidence from the crime scene.
Fast forward 35 years, and these meticulously saved pieces of evidence proved invaluable.
Technology finally caught up, allowing scientists to analyze the collected DNA and find a match.
This led to the arrest of Michael Breisch, who was just 30 years old at the time of the murder.
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Breisch was apprehended in Coshocton County, Ohio, and now faces charges of homicide and burglary.
The arrest brought a wave of relief for Rose Hnath's family.
Joanie Szivos, the victim's grand-niece, spoke for many when she said, "We always wondered if justice would ever be served for Aunt Rose."
This unsolved crime casts a long shadow over the family, and Szivos expressed her hope that "Rose finally has justice, and my mother-in-law can finally rest in peace."
Breisch, now 65, has been extradited back to Pennsylvania and is currently held without bail at the Lehigh County jail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21st.
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