Scott Weinberger

Back in the 1970s, North Aurora and its surrounding area looked much different than the suburban sprawl that exists today.

Back in the 1970s, North Aurora and its surrounding area looked much different than the suburban sprawl that exists today.

On April 24th, nearly four weeks after her disappearance, a local fisherman was at the Fox River just about a mile from Kathy's apartment. he saw something floating about 15 yards off the east bank of the river. It turned out to be the body of a young woman.

On April 24th, nearly four weeks after her disappearance, a local fisherman was at the Fox River just about a mile from Kathy's apartment. he saw something floating about 15 yards off the east bank of the river. It turned out to be the body of a young woman.

An autopsy soon revealed numerous clues about how she died.

An autopsy soon revealed numerous clues about how she died.

There was also lacerations on her mouth where it looked like she had bitten through her own lip, possibly from being struck. When the examination was complete, the medical examiner ruled on Kathy's cause of death.

There was also lacerations on her mouth where it looked like she had bitten through her own lip, possibly from being struck. When the examination was complete, the medical examiner ruled on Kathy's cause of death.

At this point in the investigation, police had several pieces of potential evidence. Kathy's car, the blood found nearby, her purse, the witness observations, who had since recanted, and now the autopsy results. The clues helped build a theory of what may have happened to Kathy and where it may have occurred.

At this point in the investigation, police had several pieces of potential evidence. Kathy's car, the blood found nearby, her purse, the witness observations, who had since recanted, and now the autopsy results. The clues helped build a theory of what may have happened to Kathy and where it may have occurred.

While Kathy's case had stalled, as the years went by, advancements in forensic science were exploding. In the 1970s, investigators had relied on something called blood typing, a method that could narrow down a suspect pool, but it wasn't specific enough to identify an individual.

While Kathy's case had stalled, as the years went by, advancements in forensic science were exploding. In the 1970s, investigators had relied on something called blood typing, a method that could narrow down a suspect pool, but it wasn't specific enough to identify an individual.

And if we go a little deeper for a moment, because we always talk about DNA, DNA fingerprinting is like finding a unique barcode for every person using their DNA. Imagine your body has a blueprint. This is your DNA, and it's made up of a unique pattern that's different from almost everyone else except perhaps identical twins.

And if we go a little deeper for a moment, because we always talk about DNA, DNA fingerprinting is like finding a unique barcode for every person using their DNA. Imagine your body has a blueprint. This is your DNA, and it's made up of a unique pattern that's different from almost everyone else except perhaps identical twins.

DNA fingerprinting is like identifying one needle in a haystack, while DNA databases is like building the haystack and searching through it later. And by the early 2000s, DNA fingerprinting was widely used in forensic investigations. A North Aurora detective thought it was time to try the technology on Kathy's evidence, which had been carefully preserved for decades.

DNA fingerprinting is like identifying one needle in a haystack, while DNA databases is like building the haystack and searching through it later. And by the early 2000s, DNA fingerprinting was widely used in forensic investigations. A North Aurora detective thought it was time to try the technology on Kathy's evidence, which had been carefully preserved for decades.

The testing showed promising results.

The testing showed promising results.

None of the known samples they collected matched any of the DNA collected as part of the investigation. So it was back to the drawing board, but not for a lack of trying.

None of the known samples they collected matched any of the DNA collected as part of the investigation. So it was back to the drawing board, but not for a lack of trying.