In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a businessman was convicted Thursday of a previously unsolved murder in 1993. Jerry Westrom was found guilty of the murder of Jeannie Childs. The 35-year-old prostitute had been stabbed 65 times. The woman had injuries to her chest, neck, back, arms, hands and buttocks.
In order to ultimately convict the suspect, the investigators needed a current DNA sample from the man. A napkin the Westroms threw away after eating a hot dog during a hockey game eventually exposed the 56-year-old as the sex worker’s killer.
Killer identified with family tree website
For nearly three decades, the case had left the police at a loss. Although they found large amounts of DNA at the crime scene, they were unable to assign it to anyone. For years, the case raised more questions than answers. Until 2018, when police enlisted the help of a genealogist who used a family tree website to match Westrom’s DNA to the DNA found at the crime scene.
According to the Washington Post, Westrom’s attorney Steve Meshbesher argued at trial that Childs’ alleged pimp could be her killer. In the hands of the murdered some hair was found from the man who died in 2017.
Lawyer wants to appeal against ruling
Meshbesher told CBS that a “sick person” appeared to have murdered Childs, adding that his client was “not the type” for such an act. “Whatever happened, it was cruel, but the question is, ‘Who did it?'” said the 56-year-old’s lawyer. He announced that he would appeal the verdict.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
