ELMIRA, NY – After more than six decades of uncertainty, the Elmira Police Department, in coordination with the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI, has identified the individual responsible for the 1964 sexual assault and murder of 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson. The breakthrough was made possible through advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy funded by Season of Justice.
Mary Theresa disappeared on March 15, 1964, after visiting a relative. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area off Combs Hill Road. Despite an exhaustive investigation at the time, the case eventually went cold as forensic technology was not yet capable of identifying a suspect from the evidence recovered at the scene.
The investigation saw a major turning point in 2022 when the Elmira Police Department utilized a grant from Season of Justice to send forensic evidence to Othram, Inc. Despite having an extremely minute amount of DNA to work with, Othram was able to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile. This data allowed FBI investigators to build a family tree that led directly to Alfred Raymond Murray Jr., an Elmira resident who died in 2004.
To confirm the lead, investigators obtained DNA from a living relative and later exhumed Murray’s remains. The testing provided a definitive match to the DNA found on Mary Theresa’s clothing. Authorities noted that Murray had a history of criminal offenses involving children and stated that, had he been alive today, he would have been charged with her murder.
“This is a historic day for the Elmira Police Department; justice after almost 62 years,” said Police Chief Kristen Thorne during a press conference on Tuesday. Addressing the family, she added, “I hope the family members here know this case was never forgotten. Mary Theresa was never forgotten.”
Linda Galpin, Mary Theresa’s sister, shared the profound emotional toll the loss took on her family over the last 60 years with WENY News. “I lived through it for years and cried and suffered heartache all this time,” Galpin said. “I’m just happy [to have answers].”
Season of Justice is honored to support the investigative efforts of Chief Thorne, Sgt. William Goodwin, and the Elmira Police Department, and extends our deepest gratitude to the teams at Othram and the FBI for their partnership. This case exemplifies the powerful impact that collaboration and innovation can have on solving cold cases. We also thank our generous donor community, whose continued support makes crucial testing like this possible.
Together, we can solve cold cases.
Read the full story from WENY News HERE