(KRON) — Greater than three a long time after an avid runner, Maria Weidhofer, was strangled to demise close to Berkeley, her killer has lastly been recognized by means of forensic DNA testing, investigators mentioned.
Weidhofer, 32, was discovered deceased with a rope round her neck in Tilden Regional Park, the place she regularly went jogging. Her physique was discovered on Nov. 16, 1990 on a path close to Inspiration Level. The runner, who had been reported lacking the earlier evening, was sexually assaulted by her assailant, investigators mentioned.
Police additionally discovered proof {that a} wrestle ensued earlier than the girl died.
Maria Weidhofer
“An autopsy performed at the time of the crime found that Weidhofer’s cause of death was asphyxia by ligature strangulation. A lengthy investigation was conducted in 1990-1991 by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department,” EBRPDPD wrote.
“Among the evidence collected, during the initial investigation, was semen from which a DNA profile was generated. A suspect was not identified from this initial investigation,” investigators wrote.
The case went chilly for many years. In 2020, the East Bay Regional Park District Police Investigations Unit started working with the FBI to reopen the chilly case. Utilizing superior DNA strategies, a person named Jon Lipari was decided to be a main suspect in 2024.
Weidhofer and Lipari didn’t know one another, police mentioned.
In November of 2024, Lipari killed himself at house in Curry County, Oregon. His explanation for demise was decided to be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police mentioned, and investigators took a pattern of his DNA.
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DNA collected from the murder scene in Tilden Regional Park was in comparison with Lipari’s DNA. “The comparison determined the DNA profiles generated from the evidence collected at the original scene and the DNA from Lipari were a match,” the police division wrote.
The investigation additionally decided that Lipari lived in Gold Seashore, Ore. after the park slaying.
EBRPDPD Chief Roberto Filice mentioned, “We hope that today’s development brings some measure of closure to the family, who have shown tremendous strength throughout this difficult time. This breakthrough comes after years of relentless investigation, and I want to personally thank our dedicated staff for their perseverance and firm commitment to seeking justice. Their determination to never give up ultimately led to solving this case.”
