Sergeant John Elliott

For about a year, I did burglary investigations, a little time in our special victims unit, and then I went to our major crimes homicide unit. And then... My sergeant came to me and said we had a grant to work on cold cases. I remember opening up this closet in the office that we worked at and all these binders were stacked all over the place. So I started going through them.

For about a year, I did burglary investigations, a little time in our special victims unit, and then I went to our major crimes homicide unit. And then... My sergeant came to me and said we had a grant to work on cold cases. I remember opening up this closet in the office that we worked at and all these binders were stacked all over the place. So I started going through them.

I would stay after work at night and researching these cases, reading about it. I remember finding this one and seeing the evidence that was there. We still had a dress and some other items. I started chipping away at it. So in 2007 is when I started working on it. Started making phone calls.

I would stay after work at night and researching these cases, reading about it. I remember finding this one and seeing the evidence that was there. We still had a dress and some other items. I started chipping away at it. So in 2007 is when I started working on it. Started making phone calls.

speaking with the analysts I knew at the DNA lab and with the state police, and they started working on little by little as well.

speaking with the analysts I knew at the DNA lab and with the state police, and they started working on little by little as well.

We told him that we didn't want to give up on the case, but you also don't want to give him any type of promises. The last thing you'll do is, especially a case this long, is make a promise to something you can't fulfill. These cases are very difficult, but the Belk family was overly appreciative of us, very supportive.

We told him that we didn't want to give up on the case, but you also don't want to give him any type of promises. The last thing you'll do is, especially a case this long, is make a promise to something you can't fulfill. These cases are very difficult, but the Belk family was overly appreciative of us, very supportive.

I thought as much items that we had and recovered and preserved, something should have been there that we could have made an identification or got a usable DNA profile of a suspect.

I thought as much items that we had and recovered and preserved, something should have been there that we could have made an identification or got a usable DNA profile of a suspect.

One of our evidence technicians packaged the evidence that we had retained and sent it to the lab and just requested everything be tested. I believe when it got to the lab, it just sat on the shelf up there because they're so backed up. They were struggling just to get DNA processed for cases that had court dates.

One of our evidence technicians packaged the evidence that we had retained and sent it to the lab and just requested everything be tested. I believe when it got to the lab, it just sat on the shelf up there because they're so backed up. They were struggling just to get DNA processed for cases that had court dates.

And these DNA analysts that are already overworked, if they had extra time, they would start working on these cold cases.

And these DNA analysts that are already overworked, if they had extra time, they would start working on these cold cases.

The DNA analyst, she was the one that helped me with this case. She was the one that looked at the evidence, processed it. She was able to identify semen that was on her dress. However, she classified it as too degraded to get any type of DNA profile.

The DNA analyst, she was the one that helped me with this case. She was the one that looked at the evidence, processed it. She was able to identify semen that was on her dress. However, she classified it as too degraded to get any type of DNA profile.

Her suggestion was to hold off until technology gets better. She just said that there's semen there. Right now, with what we can do, she classified it as degraded and that, in her opinion, years from now, the semen might have some value based on new technology.

Her suggestion was to hold off until technology gets better. She just said that there's semen there. Right now, with what we can do, she classified it as degraded and that, in her opinion, years from now, the semen might have some value based on new technology.

Vicky's case occurred in August of 1979. And if you remember, the autopsy during that process recovered a projectile.

Vicky's case occurred in August of 1979. And if you remember, the autopsy during that process recovered a projectile.