In this special bonus episode of Crimeatorium, we uncover two remarkable stories of cold cases that were ultimately solved thanks to modern forensic breakthroughs. The first takes us to Bristol, England in 1967, where the brutal murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne had remained a mystery for over five decades. The second leads us to Massachusetts in 1978, where the double homicide of Teresa Marcoux and Mark Harnish haunted investigators for nearly half a century.
The case of Louisa Dunne is particularly chilling. On June 28, 1967, Dunne was discovered dead in her home, having been strangled and raped. Despite an extensive investigation that included collecting palm prints from thousands of men in the area, police were unable to identify a suspect. Dunne, a widow who had once been part of Bristol's social elite, lived alone in her modest home, maintaining a close friendship with her 79-year-old neighbor, Alice Clarke.
Just two days before her murder, Dunne had visited Clark, sharing an unusually long evening of conversation and dessert. Little did they know, it would be the last time anyone saw Louisa Dunne alive. For decades, the case went cold, but in 2022, Avon and Somerset police reopened the investigation. Thanks to advancements in forensic science, DNA evidence preserved from the scene was reanalyzed, leading them to a 92-year-old suspect, Ryland Headley of Ipswich.
Headley was arrested and charged with Dunne's rape and murder, making this the oldest cold case ever solved by the Avon and Somerset police. As Detective Inspector Dave Marchant emphasized, this development underscores the critical role of DNA in solving mysteries that had long evaded justice.
Turning our attention to Massachusetts, we uncover another pair of cold cases that were finally cracked after nearly 50 years. On the morning of November 19, 1978, a West Springfield police officer discovered the bodies of 18-year-old Teresa Marcoux and 20-year-old Mark Harnish at a rest area, both having been shot multiple times.
Marcoux, described as lively and cheerful, worked as a clerk in a local hardware store, while Harnish, quiet and polite, was employed at a car repair shop. The crime scene yielded valuable evidence, including .38 caliber bullets and a latent fingerprint on the victims' truck that did not belong to either of them.
However, despite tireless efforts, including manually comparing the print against 70,000 fingerprint cards, the case went cold for decades. That is, until a tip in 2024 named Timothy Scott Joley, a former Springfield resident, as a suspect. Investigators obtained Jolie's fingerprint card, which had been on file since 2000 when he applied for a taxi license, and a match was made.
Further investigation revealed that Joley, now 71 and living in Clearwater, Florida, had purchased a Colt handgun just one month before the murders. On October 30, 2024, Joley was arrested and charged with the killings of Teresa Marcoux and Mark Harnish, demonstrating that even after decades, justice can still be pursued.
These remarkable cases serve as a testament to the power of forensic science and the unwavering dedication of investigators. They remind us that no case is ever truly closed, and that with the right tools and perseverance, even the coldest of cases can be revived, bringing closure and justice to the victims and their families.
As host of Crimeatorium, I'm honored to share these captivating stories with you. Each episode dives into lesser-known true crime cases, uncovering the hidden details and unearthing the mysteries that have haunted investigators for years. If you're intrigued by these tales of forensic breakthroughs and the pursuit of justice, be sure to subscribe to Crimeatorium and join me on the next journey into the world of crime.
Before I forget, I want to thank Tim Kulig and CoAg Music, I use their music pretty much exclusively now. What a gift they both have bestowed upon creators. I love using music in my episodes, and I find everything I need between these two. So guys, if you're reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your talent with us all.
Louisa Dunne
Timothy Joley
