Here you go - one of many stories that will show the power of DNA when it comes to solving cold cases. It took 21 years but justice can finally be found for this family in Winnipeg. It makes you wonder how many other known offenders hold secrets like this...but with Canada's DNA Databank and the right to take DNA from convicted criminals, these secrets can only be held for so long...here's the story:
Inmate's DNA may solve 21-year-old murder case:
Victim's family seeks justice, closure
The Edmonton Journal, Sat 19 Nov 2005
Page: A8 Section: News Dateline: WINNIPEG Source: The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG - For more than 21 years, Beverly Dyke's children have wondered how the mother who kept to herself and never strayed far from home ended up raped, stabbed to death and left in a wooded area 16 kilometres away.
On Friday, police revealed a DNA test on an Ontario prison inmate seems to hold some of the answers the Dyke family has long been waiting for.
Robert Joseph Kociuk, 64, who is serving a lengthy sentence at Joyceville Penitentiary near Kingston for robbery, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dyke, 48.
Her slashed body was discovered in a wooded area near an industrial park in west Winnipeg on May 17, 1984.
The area was popular with joggers, cyclists and could be accessed by vehicles using the trails that lead through the bush.
Investigators made the arrest after the suspect provided a DNA sample to a national DNA databank, Det. Sgt. Al Bradbury told a news conference.
The accused provided the sample after being convicted of robbery near Hamilton, Ont.
Bradbury said Kociuk was on parole and living in Winnipeg around the time of Dyke's 1984 murder. He was considered a person of interest in the case and was interviewed, Bradbury said, but no charge was laid.
Police revealed that a DNA profile of Dyke's killer was developed in 1998 from bodily fluids found at the crime scene. Bradbury said they got a positive match from the national databank earlier this year.
"We look for that next piece of evidence, be it information we receive from the public, or in this case, forensic evidence that leads us to the person," Bradbury said.
"This DNA evidence resulted in the next piece that we needed to secure a charge and bring him before the courts."
Dyke was a divorced, unemployed mother of three grown children. She had few friends but no known enemies.
Dyke's son and his wife attended the police news conference, but did not want to be identified or speak directly to the media.
"This is a difficult time of mixed emotion for the family," said Patrol Sgt. Kelly Dennison, reading a brief statement on the family's behalf.
"While they are very pleased, this also opens old wounds. They pray for justice."
Bradbury said police investigators believed they'd sewn up their case in April, but verifying the DNA match, presenting the case to prosecutors and having the inmate transferred back to Manitoba delayed laying the charge.
"Everything added up to take its time."
Dennison said police don't believe Dyke knew her attacker.
Kociuk had no history of sex crimes.
He has been transferred to Manitoba to face the charges and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
