Maureen Farley's sister fumes as killer George M Smith dies before trial: 'No justice'
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA: Iowa police have finally solved the 50-year-old cold case murder of Maureen Brubaker Farley, who was 17 when she died, through DNA evidence. Cedar Rapids police have identified the killer as George M Smith, who died at the age of 94 in 2013. Farley’s body was discovered in a wooded ravine, now known as Tait Cummins Park, by two teenage boys on September 24, 1971.
Farley was found partially clothed with no shoes. An autopsy revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and struck in the head. A skull fracture had resulted in her death.
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Mary Brubaker, Farley's mother, had suspected Smith for a long time. Six months after her daughter's death, she even wrote to police. Farley became acquainted with Smith at the diner where she worked, and the accused also worked at a liquor store close to her apartment.
Smith was interviwed by police back in 1971, but they did not find enough evidence to charge him or anyone else. Back at that time, DNA technology was unavailable. Lisa Schenzel, Farley's sister, said that despite the closure, she and her family are still angry that her killer died before he could be brought to justice.
"We’ve had some time to get used to the (case being solved). I guess we were in shock. Then we went through a little bit of anger, I think, because he was allowed to live his life without facing justice in this world," Schenzel tols Fox News. "Maybe we didn’t (get) full justice in this world, but I’m sure that he did in the next."
Cedar Rapids police said on their website, "Through years of investigation and with the use of DNA technology, investigators determined that the unknown suspect DNA profile developed in this case was that of George M. Smith. As a result of the investigation, the Homicide Cold Case of Maureen Brubaker-Farley will be closed, with no prosecution, as George M. Smith is deceased."
“No matter how much time has passed, our officers are committed to seeking out justice for all victims of violent crime as well as their families. I am extremely proud of the generations of Cedar Rapids Officers that contributed to bringing this once cold case to a resolution. I would also like to specifically recognize the contributions of our current Cedar Rapids Police Departments Cold Case Unit. Those individuals are Investigator Matt Denlinger, retired DCI Special Agent JD Smith and retired CRPD Police Lieutenant Ken Washburn," Chief of Police Wayne Jerman stated.