Post by Scumhunter on Feb 22, 2018 2:07:36 GMT -5
(Above: Christy Mirack. Photo Credit: pennlive.com via Facebook)
(Above: DNA composites over the years of suspect, ages 25, 45, and 55 Photo Credits: pennlive.com)
From pennlive.com: (2017 article)
Thanks to DNA evidence and advances in technology, investigators have created composites for the suspect in the 1992 killing of Lancaster area school teacher Christy Ann Mirack.
Mirack was 25 when she was beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted in her home in Greenfield Estates. Her body was found in her home by a school administrator on Dec. 21, 1992 when she didn't come into work.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman was joined by various other investigators in a news conference at the East Lampeter Township municipal building Wednesday. Stedman hoped that the composites would result in new tips that lead to an arrest.
"This case weighs heavily on the investigators who have devoted so much time, energy and personal emotion to finding Christy's killer," he said. "With this new information and a recent clearing of a person of interest, the time is now to re-emphasize the importance of closing this case."
Investigators were able to have the composites created by sending DNA collected at the crime scene to Virginia-based Parabon Nanolabs. The firm, which specializes in DNA phenotyping - the process in determining physical appearance and ancestry with unidentified DNA - then provided three composites depicting the suspect at ages 25, 45, and 55.
Stedman noted that the composites don't account for facial hair and scars, or lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking.
"It's very, very new technology," he said. "It's been the first time certainly we've used it, but it's been used a few times across the country."
The labs were also able to provide investigators characteristics of the suspect, including skin tone, eye color, hair color, and whether or not he had freckles.
Stedman said that throughout the 25-year investigation, numerous individuals have been vetted and cleared as persons of interest in the case, one of which was cleared as recently as last month. Investigators declined to release details.
Stedman also declined to say whether or not Mirack's family members, who were present at the new conference, recognized anyone by looking at the composites.
The family members requested privacy and declined to speak with the media.
Stedman also noted that the composites are approximations and that is possible that the suspect could still be at large, or he may have died in the last 25 years, as the DNA is not able to clue investigators in as to how old the suspect was at the time of the crime.
He hoped, however, that the composites would result in new tips that could help investigators close the case.
"Somebody, very likely, saw this individual in association with Christy," he said.
Tips can be submitted to the Lancaster City-County CrimeStoppers website, or call 1-800-322-1913 or text LANCS and the tip to 847411.
The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office has also purchased a URL, WhoKilledChristyMirack.com, which links to a page with information on the case, the composites, and a tip-sharing forum.
Tips can be submitted anonymously, and will go diretly to detectives on the case.
www.pennlive.com/news/2017/11/dna_evidence_technology_enable.html
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