South Carolina man arrested in Michigan woman’s 1988 killing

A South Carolina man has been charged in a Michigan lady’s 1988 slaying after investigators used forensic genetic family tree to slender the pool of suspects to a single household, authorities stated Monday.

Robert Odell Waters, 53, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Beaufort, South Carolina, the place he lives, within the killing of Cathy Sue Swartz, St. Joseph County Prosecuting Legal professional David Martin stated.

The 19-year-old Swartz was crushed, stabbed and strangled in December 1988 in her residence in Three Rivers, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Kalamazoo close to the Michigan-Indiana border. Her 9-month-old daughter was within the subsequent room when her mom was killed, Three Rivers police stated.

Martin stated Waters was formally charged with open homicide Sunday afternoon and he waived extradition to Michigan.

It was unclear whether or not Martin has an lawyer who may communicate on his behalf.

On the time of Swartz’s killing, Martin stated that Waters lived in St. Joseph County in southwestern Michigan.

Swartz’s slaying had lengthy remained a chilly case, regardless of blood, fingerprints and footprints discovered on the crime scene that investigators believed belonged to her killer.

However final 12 months, Three Rivers police, working with Michigan State Police and others had been in a position to make use of forensic genetic family tree to slender the suspect pool to a single household.

After investigators interviewed and fingerprinted members of that household and analyzed their DNA, officers recognized Waters as a suspect in Swartz’s killing. Detectives traveled to South Carolina to talk to Waters after which obtained a warrant from his arrest.

“Whereas nothing can change the lack of Cathy Swartz, and the influence this mindless tragedy has had, we hope the identification and arrest of a suspect will convey some long-awaited closure to her household and pals,” Three Rivers Police Chief Scott Boling stated in a press release.