The murder of Helene Pruszynski
Douglas County, Colorado · 1980
Overview
Helene Pruszynski, a 21-year-old college intern from Massachusetts working at a Denver radio station, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and stabbed to death in January 1980; her body was found in a field off Daniels Park Road in Douglas County, Colorado. The case went cold for nearly 40 years until investigative genetic genealogy identified James Curtis Clanton, who had been living in Florida under a former identity. He was arrested in December 2019 and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2020.
How it was solved
Detectives developed a suspect DNA profile from crime-scene evidence and, after database searches failed, partnered with Colorado-based United Data Connect and Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs to use forensic genetic genealogy, building family trees from public genealogy data to narrow the search to Clanton. Investigators surveilled him in Florida and surreptitiously obtained DNA from a beer mug he used at a bar; that sample matched the murder-scene evidence. It is regarded as the first conviction in Colorado obtained through genetic genealogy.
Sources
- Cold Case Helene Pruszynski
“Victim: Helene Pruszynski, age 21. Date of abduction: night of January 16, 1980. Body discovery: January 17, 1980 in a field near Daniels Park Road.”
- Man arrested in intern's 1980 cold case rape, murder thanks to DNA match
“Pruszynski was walking home from the bus stop when she was abducted ... DNA from beer mug matched crime scene.”
- Man gets life in prison for 1980 killing of young woman in Douglas County
“found sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in a field off Daniels Park Road on Jan. 17, 1980 ... worked with two private companies, Colorado-based United Data Connect and Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs.”
- 40 Years Later, James Clanton Pleads Guilty In Helene Pruszynski Murder
“Charge: First-degree murder ... investigators utilized forensic genealogy and tracked Clanton.”
- James Clanton Sentenced For 1980 Murder Of Helene Pruszynski
“Sentence: Life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years due to 1980 laws.”
- Man pleads guilty in 1980 murder for Colorado's first conviction through genealogy testing
“DNA profile developed but 'no matches in the national database' ... Obtained DNA from 'a beer mug obtained in Florida' ... Alias at time of crime: Curtis Allen White.”
- CeCe Moore
“In December 2019, Moore, Parabon and United Data Connect helped Douglas County, Colorado police with the arrest of James Curtis Clanton.”