The Elmira Police Department released the name of the suspect in the 1964 murder of Mary Theresa Simpson.
According to police, advancements in technology allowed investigators to identify DNA connected to the case. The suspect was identified as Elmira resident Alfred R. Murry Jr., who passed away in 2004.
Simpson was reported missing on March 15, 1964. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area off of Combs Hill Road.
No arrests have ever been made in the case, which remained unsolved for more than 60 years.
Evidence from the case was sent to a DNA lab in Texas back in 2023. Scientists were able to recover usable DNA and create a genetic profile believed to belong to the killer.
DNA evidence on the victim’s skirt was found to match Murray’s DNA.
Here is the complete statement from the Elmira Police Department:
Today, the Elmira Police Department announced the closure of one of the City of Elmira’s oldest cold cases, the 1964 homicide of Mary Theresa Simpson. Mary Theresa Simpson was murdered on March 15, 1964, and for more than six decades her case remained open and unresolved.
Late in 2024, Sergeant Goodwin made contact with representatives from Russell Sage College and, in coordination with their team and the FBI, utilized specialized resources and modern investigative technologies to re-examine the case. Through these efforts, along with advances in DNA testing and investigative genetic genealogy, investigators were able to identify Alfred Murray, who died in 2004, as the individual responsible for her death, bringing a long awaited resolution to this case.
The press conference was attended by representatives from Russell Sage College and the FBI, whose assistance was instrumental in achieving this outcome. Also present were numerous retired Elmira Police Department officers who worked this case over the years, as well as surviving family members of Mary Theresa Simpson.
This case stands as a powerful reminder that time does not erase responsibility. The Elmira Police Department never forgets its victims and will continue to work tirelessly, no matter how long it takes, to solve serious crimes and seek justice for those affected.
