The cigarette butt helped solve a murder that happened 52 years ago. Rita Curran, then 24 years old and working as a teacher in Burlington, was murdered in 1971 in Vermont, United States of America.
With the help of a DNA test performed on a cigarette butt found near Rita Curran’s body, Burlington police were able to identify the teacher’s upstairs neighbor, William DeRoos, as the perpetrator of the crime. According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, Derus strangled Rita to death after an argument with his wife. After a quarrel, the man left the house, and when he returned, he asked not to tell anyone that he had left.
The investigation was reopened in 2019, and that’s when DeRosa’s ex-wife revealed that the man left the house that day to calm down after their fight.
DeRoos moved to Thailand and became a monk after his teacher died. He later returned to the United States of America and died of a drug overdose in 1986.
“We are all convinced that William DeRos is responsible for the murder of Rita Curran. Since he died of an overdose, he will not be held responsible for his actions, but this case will be closed,” Burlington Police Detective James Trib said at a press conference. conference Tuesday.
Rita Curran’s parents died without knowing who killed their daughter. Rita Curran’s siblings were attending an event held at Burlington Police Headquarters when officers said the case was closed. “I don’t think about the person who did this, I just think about Rita and my parents and what they went through,” Tom, Rita Curran’s brother, said during the event.
“I pray for Rita and I pray for my parents,” he added.
Source: CM Jornal
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