Chicago police say DNA ties a former detective to decades-old unsolved killing of 8-year-old girl

Chicago police have announced that DNA evidence links a former homicide detective to the 1960 murder of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz. The girl was abducted while walking to church, never to be seen again. Police have long believed that the killer never received justice for this unsolved case.

In a statement, police explained that new forensic technology enabled them to match a fingerprint and DNA from the crime scene to Thomas F. McInerney Jr., a detective who was working on violent crimes at the time. However, McInerney, who retired in 1987, maintains he was never implicated or held accountable for this crime.

The investigation involved a task force comprised of police officers who canvassed the neighborhood, talked to over 1,300 witnesses, and conducted polygraph examinations. They collected a bullet, the victim's coat, shoes and a white communion purse containing her prayer book.

With the assistance of the FBI and Illinois State Police, investigators were able to tie DNA found on those items and a preserved fingerprint from the victim's purse strap to McInerney. This breakthrough was made possible through modern genetic technology which allows authorities to compare evidence with genetic profiles on genealogical websites.

The story of this case has drawn attention to the potential for old cases to be solved with modern investigative methods. However, it also raises concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of genetic data. McInerney, who passed away in 2006, had a long career with the Chicago Police Department and later worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office.