Wendy Jerome, 1, was raped and murdered while giving a birthday card in her neighborhood on Thanksgiving Day 1984 and was found by pedestrians near a school dumpster that night, Rochester Police Captain Frank Umprino said. , In which “there were clear signs of injury.” .
Timothy Williams, 56, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Melbourne, Florida, and was identified as a fugitive, according to Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Julie Hann.
In a vague speech, Jerome’s mother thanked the police department for its lengthy handling of the case.
“I never thought I’d see it these days, and now it’s here,” Marlene Jerome said. “I wish my husband would have lived to see this. He died in 2011 and I know she’s there with him and they smile and say, ‘It’s over, it’s over.’
In 1999, DNA extracted from semen collected during ops topsy was uploaded to the FBI’s DNA database, but there was no match, Umbrino said. In 2017, New York law was changed to allow the discovery of family matches for DNA collected in criminal investigations for legal enforcement, and the director requested that anyone see if the DNA matched or possibly matched with someone else’s. Family DNA research is conducted. To be related.
In June 2020, the results of a New York State Crime Lab family search generated new leads that were narrowed down to possible suspects, Umbrino said.
Law enforcement confirmed Williams’ attachment to the additional DNA sample, District Attorney Sandra Durley said, declining to discuss the evidence further.
Wimbiums lived in Jerome’s neighborhood in 1984 and according to Umrino, it would have been 20 years since Jerome’s death.
Williams had no defense attorney in Florida, where he granted extradition to Florida, according to the Braver County Clark of the court office. He is now awaiting extradition to New York, where he will be arraigned in Rochester City Court for second-degree murder.
Investigators found the case particularly meaningful, often continuing to help after leaving the department, Umbrino said. An official took part in the investigation after the initial report. Some, like Hahan, had children at the time of the murder, and he vividly remembered.
“Wendy’s story helped me as the plaintiff I am today.”
Umbrino shed tears again as investigators visited Jerome’s mother on Thursday night to inform investigators that Wimbiams had been arrested.
“Marlene, I’m sorry it took so long, but in the end we did it,” Umbrino said, his voice cracking as he hugged her.
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