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Chicago police find killer in 65-year-old cold case murder of little girl - one of their own
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- The 1960 cold case murder of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz in Chicago was solved in 2024 using advanced DNA technology and a preserved fingerprint, identifying Thomas F. McInerney Jr., a former Chicago Police detective, as the killer.
- Gloria was abducted while walking to church, fatally shot, and left in a ditch; despite a massive manhunt at the time, the case remained unsolved for 65 years.
- McInerney retired in 1987 and died in 2006 without ever being charged; police and the FBI are investigating whether he may have other victims.
- The breakthrough came after DNA from semen on Gloria's clothes was matched via family tree research websites, and McInerney's fingerprints matched those found on her purse.
- The Chicago Police Department expressed regret that McInerney was never held accountable during his lifetime, while Gloria’s family hopes for some form of justice.
