Apr 30, 2009 10:52 pm US/Central
Surprise Twist in 'Susans' Murders
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
-
-
Susan Petersen (left) and Susan Rheineck (right) were both found strangled in Highland Park in St. Paul two years apart -- Peterson in 1983, Rheineck in 1985. Both cases are still unsolved.
CBS
There is a startling development in a suspected serial killer case that has baffled St. Paul police for more than 25 years. Two women with the same name were found murdered in the same neighborhood, on the same day, two years apart.
For years, investigators wondered if a serial killer was connected to both murders or if the brutal deaths were just a bizarre coincidence.
On May 17, 1983, police found 28-year-old Susan Petersen strangled and sexually assaulted in an alley in the upscale Highland Park neighborhood.
The same day, two years later, 16-year-old Susan Rheineck was also sexually attacked, killed and tied to a tree just a few blocks away by the Mississippi River.
Both victims wore similar raincoats and were last seen in the same part of town the day before they vanished.
"We believe that it's not likely somebody knew them. These women were both women who were what I would call easy victims. They were people that had difficulties in their lives," said Sgt. Anita Muldoon, who supervises the St. Paul Police Department's cold case unit.
Several months ago, Muldoon gave evidence from both crime scenes to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension lab for DNA tests.
"There was a lot of thought that they were killed by the same person," said Muldoon.
The BCA's forensic scientists were able to uncover DNA from both of the Susans' cases. And that led to a surprising conclusion: two
different killers were to blame.
"It is a little more alarming that it's two different people because they were so similar," said Muldoon.
The DNA results were entered into the FBI's national database to see if there is a link to any other cases. So far, there have been no hits, which means the killers are not currently in prison.
The "Susans" murders inspired a novel by former WCCO investigative producer Julie Kramer called "Stalking Susan." It's about a serial killer targeting women with that name.
St. Paul cold case investigators are still following up on possible leads in the "real" Susans' murders. If you know anything about either case, call the St. Paul Homicide Office at 651-266-5650.
Related Links:
Experienced Eyes To Take Fresh Look At Cold Cases
Former WCCO Producer Writes Murder Mystery
Cold Case Unit To Look At 2 Eerily Linked Murders
Cold Case: The 2 Susans In Highland Park
Caroline's Blog: 'Stalking Susan' Flying Off The Shelves
Read A Newspaper Clipping Of The 1983 Murder
Read A Newspaper Clipping Of The 1985 Murder
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Welcome To The Crime Scene Corner
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
