Home / Crime and Justice / Decades Later: Cold Case Murder Solved by DNA
Decades Later: Cold Case Murder Solved by DNA
21 May
Summary
- Roberta Walls' 1986 murder was solved using forensic genealogy.
- DNA evidence led to the arrest of Charles Berry in Connecticut.
- Investigators expressed confidence in the identification after decades.
A Connecticut man has been arrested for the decades-old rape and murder of Roberta Walls, whose body was discovered in Virginia Beach on May 15, 1986. The 22-year-old victim had been sexually assaulted and stabbed, and the case remained unsolved for many years, eventually being assigned to the Cold Case Unit.
Initial DNA analysis in 2001 yielded a profile but no matches. Further advancements in 2017 created a composite photo of the killer, yet arrests were still not made. In 2023, grant funding enabled investigators to pursue forensic genealogy.
This new approach led to the identification of Charles Berry, 66, of Newington, Connecticut. A direct DNA comparison confirmed Berry as the source of the crime scene profile. He was arrested on Monday and is currently held on a $10 million bond, awaiting extradition to Virginia.
Investigators expressed strong confidence in the identification. Police officials hope this breakthrough brings closure to families still awaiting answers in their own unsolved cases, emphasizing their continued commitment to pursuing justice.
