Anastasia Nicolazzi

Kathy's family was still also actively searching the area. Her father, who worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, brought a unique resource to the search—airplanes.

Kathy's family was still also actively searching the area. Her father, who worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, brought a unique resource to the search—airplanes.

The intense searches went on for weeks.

The intense searches went on for weeks.

The woman was fully clothed, wearing a coat and shoes. Kathy's disappearance was still fresh in people's minds, so police called her father down to the morgue to see if the woman was Kathy.

The woman was fully clothed, wearing a coat and shoes. Kathy's disappearance was still fresh in people's minds, so police called her father down to the morgue to see if the woman was Kathy.

And we do want to warn you that the description is unsettling and may be triggering for some. Kathy's face and neck showed signs of a violent struggle.

And we do want to warn you that the description is unsettling and may be triggering for some. Kathy's face and neck showed signs of a violent struggle.

her death was officially classified as a homicide.

her death was officially classified as a homicide.

Although pieces of potential evidence were being gathered, the investigation faced a major roadblock. None of it pointed police to a suspect.

Although pieces of potential evidence were being gathered, the investigation faced a major roadblock. None of it pointed police to a suspect.

And so the case sat. Weeks became months, which became years, and eventually decades.

And so the case sat. Weeks became months, which became years, and eventually decades.

Then in 1984, a scientific breakthrough changed everything. A British geneticist developed a technique called DNA fingerprinting. The method allowed scientists to isolate and identify variable elements within a DNA sequence. This made it possible to link DNA evidence to a specific person with unprecedented accuracy.

Then in 1984, a scientific breakthrough changed everything. A British geneticist developed a technique called DNA fingerprinting. The method allowed scientists to isolate and identify variable elements within a DNA sequence. This made it possible to link DNA evidence to a specific person with unprecedented accuracy.

The conclusions did reveal DNA belonging to another person in addition to Kathy, but they couldn't get more specific than that. So investigators next decided to test that DNA against several previous old suspects in the case.

The conclusions did reveal DNA belonging to another person in addition to Kathy, but they couldn't get more specific than that. So investigators next decided to test that DNA against several previous old suspects in the case.

And over the years, North Aurora wasn't the only police department taking advantage of the advances in DNA technology.

And over the years, North Aurora wasn't the only police department taking advantage of the advances in DNA technology.