👋 Welcome back, Case Crackers.

This week’s story takes us back to November 1984, when 16-year-old Theresa Fusco left her part-time job at a Long Island roller rink in tears, she had just been fired. She was never seen alive again. Her body was discovered a month later, buried under leaves in a wooded area, the victim of a brutal rape and strangulation.

What followed was a miscarriage of justice that would haunt Nassau County for decades: three innocent men were convicted of her murder and spent nearly 18 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated them in 2003. The real killer remained free, hidden in plain sight, living just miles away from where Theresa died.

But in October 2025, 41 years after the crime—prosecutors finally announced they had their man. The breakthrough? A discarded smoothie straw. And when investigators confronted 63-year-old Richard Bilodeau with the DNA match, his response was chillingly cavalier: “Yeah, people got away with murder back then.”

To which prosecutors had one simple reply: “It’s 2025, and I got you now.”

This is a story about persistence, the power of forensic science, and a father who never stopped believing justice would arrive. Grab your notes, because every detail in this decades-long investigation matters.

Full Case Story — What We Know So Far

On the night of November 10, 1984, 16-year-old Theresa Fusco left her part-time job at Hot Skates roller rink in Lynbrook, New York—roughly 30 miles east of Manhattan—after being fired from her snack bar position. She was last seen crying as she walked away from the rink.

Nearly a month later, on December 5, 1984, her naked body was discovered buried under leaves and shipping pallets in a wooded area just a few blocks from the roller rink. The medical examiner determined she had been strangled with a ligature and raped.

The Wrongful Convictions

In 1986, three men—John Restivo, Dennis Halstead, and John Kogut—were convicted of Theresa’s rape and murder. They would spend approximately 17-18 years in prison before their world would change.

Kogut had allegedly confessed to police during a 12-hour questioning session, which formed the basis of the prosecution’s case against all three men.

In 2003, DNA testing revealed that a genetic profile recovered from a vaginal swab taken from Theresa’s body did not belong to any of the three convicted men. The Innocence Project worked on their cases, and their convictions were overturned.

Kogut was retried in a 2005 bench trial and found not guilty. The charges against Restivo and Halstead were dismissed. All three men sued Nassau County for wrongful imprisonment, and Halstead and Restivo were each awarded $18 million.

But while justice had been served for the wrongly accused, one critical question remained: If these three men didn’t kill Theresa Fusco, who did?

The Cold Case Breakthrough

In August 2023, Nassau County investigators sent a vaginal swab recovered from Theresa’s body to Othram, a well-known forensic lab in Houston. The lab used the sample to build a DNA profile, and from there, the FBI’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Unit and local county investigators searched for potential relatives of the suspect.

This genetic genealogy search led investigators to Richard Bilodeau.

Beginning in early 2024, with the help of the FBI and investigative leads that had been developed, Nassau County authorities began surveilling Bilodeau, who was living in Center Moriches, Long Island, and working overnight shifts at a Suffolk County Walmart.

Their big break came in February 2024, when Bilodeau purchased a smoothie from a Tropical Smoothie Café location in Suffolk County, not far from his home. When he finished drinking it, he discarded his cup and straw in the trash.

Investigators retrieved that cup from the garbage and brought it to the Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner for testing. DNA extracted from the straw turned out to be a “100% match” with the DNA on the swab from 1984.

The Confrontation

When investigators went to speak with Bilodeau at his workplace after matching his DNA with the crime scene evidence, he told them: “Yeah, people got away with murder, back then.”

During questioning, Bilodeau denied knowing Theresa’s name and claimed he had never met her.

At the time of Theresa’s murder in 1984, Bilodeau was 23 years old and living with his grandparents in Lynbrook—approximately one mile from Hot Skates roller rink. He was operating a mobile coffee truck in Nassau County. However, nobody in Theresa’s immediate circle recognized him.

🔔 Breaking News — Latest Developments

The Arrest and Arraignment

Richard Bilodeau, now 63, was arrested on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and arraigned in a Nassau County courtroom on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. A Nassau County grand jury indicted him on two counts of second-degree murder, including one count alleging he committed the crime during a rape.

Bilodeau pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to the county jail. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 21, 2025.

Prosecutors’ Response

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly attributed the charges to “remarkable advancements” in forensic science and DNA analysis and the “relentless pursuit of justice” by her cold case homicide prosecutors and investigators.

“The past has not been forgotten,” Donnelly said at a press conference after the hearing. “We will never stop fighting for victims. My office is determined to see justice for Theresa and her family.”

During the press briefing, Donnelly directly addressed Bilodeau’s comment to investigators: “He said, ‘People got away with murder back then.’ Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Bilodeau; it’s 2025, and I got you now.”

When asked about the DNA match, Donnelly emphasized: “When you have a DNA match – 100% match – we got the guy.”

Defense Strategy

Bilodeau’s court-appointed attorney, Daniel Russo, emphasized his client’s presumption of innocence: “If ever a case exemplifies that someone accused of a crime is entitled to the presumption of innocence, it is this case. There are four decades worth of investigatory leads, tips, evidence and trial transcripts to review.”

“Mr. Bilodeau maintains his innocence,” Russo stated. “This incident took place over forty years ago and three men were convicted after trial and served almost two decades in prison before being exonerated.”

His defense team is expected to challenge both the chain of custody and the constitutionality of the DNA evidence, arguing that retrieving genetic material from a discarded smoothie straw may overstep privacy boundaries.

Legal Precedent

Under U.S. law, genetic material left in public—like a cup or straw—is considered abandoned property, meaning police can test it without a warrant.

Legal analysts believe this trial could set a new precedent for forensic surveillance, testing how far investigators can go in collecting and analyzing DNA from abandoned items in public spaces.

The Family’s Response

Theresa’s father, Thomas Fusco, attended the arraignment. Her mother died in 2019, never seeing justice for her daughter.

After the hearing, Thomas Fusco said it was “heartbreaking” to relive his daughter’s death “over and over again” but expressed hope that the arrest was a “finalization” in the ordeal.

“It’s heartbreaking to go through this over and over again, but this seems like a finalization and I’m very grateful,” Thomas Fusco said. “I loved her and I miss her. She lives in my heart, as you can see,” he added as he pulled a small photo of Theresa from his suit jacket pocket during a news conference with prosecutors. “I never gave up hope. I’ve always had faith in the system.”

Possible Connection to Other Cases

Theresa’s friend, Kelly Morrissey, also went missing in 1984 from Lynbrook and has still not been found. District Attorney Donnelly declined to comment on Bilodeau’s possible connection to other crimes in the area, including Morrissey’s disappearance.

Tip of the Week - Understanding DNA Evidence & Your Rights

The Theresa Fusco case demonstrates both the power of DNA technology and the legal boundaries around how investigators can collect genetic evidence. Here’s what you need to know:

When DNA Can Be Collected Without Your Consent:

1. Abandoned property: Once you discard items in public—cups, straws, napkins, cigarette butts—you have no expectation of privacy. Law enforcement can legally retrieve and test them for DNA.

2. Lawful arrest: In many states, police can collect DNA samples upon arrest for certain crimes, not just upon conviction.

3. Crime scenes: DNA left at a crime scene (blood, hair, skin cells) can be collected and analyzed without a warrant.

What This Means for You:

• Be aware in public spaces: Anything you touch and discard in public can potentially be collected for DNA analysis if you become a suspect in an investigation.

• Understand your genealogy DNA: When you upload DNA to public genealogy databases, you’re not just sharing your own genetic information—you’re potentially exposing your relatives to identification in criminal investigations. Always read privacy policies carefully.

• Know your rights during questioning: You have the right to refuse to provide a DNA sample unless police have a warrant or you’ve been lawfully arrested. Don’t feel pressured to “cooperate” by voluntarily providing DNA if you’re uncomfortable doing so.

The Broader Lesson:

The Fusco case also reminds us of the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions. Three innocent men lost nearly two decades of their lives because of a false confession and lack of DNA testing. If you ever find yourself questioned by police:

• Request an attorney immediately before answering any questions.

• Never agree to lengthy interrogations without legal representation.

• Understand that you have the right to remain silent—and use it.

Justice delayed is tragic, but wrongful conviction is catastrophic. The system failed Theresa Fusco twice—once by letting her real killer go free, and again by imprisoning three innocent men. Let’s learn from both failures.

🧩 Case Crackers — The Smoothie Shop Cipher

How closely were you paying attention to the details of this week’s case? Solve this cipher to reveal a hidden word connected to this investigation.

How to Play:
Convert each number into a letter (1 = A, 2 = B, 3 = C … 26 = Z). Arrange them in order to unlock the secret word.

Convert each of these numbers:
• 3 → ?
• 21 → ?
• 16 → ?

What three-letter word might this represent that ties back to the critical evidence in this case? (Hint: Think about what the investigators retrieved from the trash that contained Bilodeau’s DNA.)

📊 Crime Insight of the Week — Trends & Truth

• In 2024, the U.S. violent crime rate fell to 359.1 per 100,000 residents, the lowest level recorded since 2014, marking a 20-year low. Overall violent crime decreased by 4.5% compared to 2023.

• Homicides dropped dramatically by 14.9% in 2024, with the murder rate falling to 5 per 100,000 people, the lowest in nearly a decade.

• Cold case clearance rates are slowly improving. After falling to a historic low of 49.4% in 2021, the murder clearance rate increased to 61.4% in 2024. However, overall law enforcement agencies still cleared only 43.8% of all violent crimes and 15.9% of all property crimes in 2024.

• Wrongful convictions remain a persistent problem. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, there have been over 3,400 exonerations in the United States since 1989, representing more than 30,000 years lost to wrongful imprisonment. False confessions, like the one that helped convict John Kogut in Theresa’s case, contribute to approximately 12% of all wrongful murder convictions.

• DNA exonerations continue to expose flaws in the justice system. The Innocence Project reports that DNA evidence has exonerated 375 people in the United States, including 21 who served time on death row. The average length of time served before exoneration is 14 years—close to the 18 years that Kogut, Halstead, and Restivo spent behind bars.

• Genetic genealogy is revolutionizing cold cases. Since 2018, when investigators used the technique to identify the Golden State Killer, genetic genealogy has helped solve hundreds of cold cases across the country. However, privacy advocates continue to raise concerns about the implications of using public DNA databases for law enforcement purposes.

• Investment in cold case units is paying off. Cities like Boston increased their homicide clearance rate by 19 percentage points by hiring additional detectives and leveraging data and technology, while Denver increased its nonfatal shooting clearance rate from 39% to 65% in the first seven months after establishing a specialized unit.

🔍 How These Stats Reflect the Theresa Fusco Case

Theresa’s case illustrates both the promise and the peril of our criminal justice system. While violent crime rates have fallen to historic lows in 2024, this case reminds us that justice delayed is not justice denied—but it requires persistence, resources, and advancing technology.

The wrongful convictions of Kogut, Halstead, and Restivo represent a devastating failure that cost three innocent men nearly two decades of their lives. Their story is part of a larger national crisis: thousands of people have been wrongfully convicted, with false confessions playing a significant role in these miscarriages of justice.

At the same time, the eventual identification of Richard Bilodeau demonstrates how genetic genealogy and modern DNA forensics are finally allowing investigators to solve cases that were previously thought unsolvable. The 100% DNA match from a discarded smoothie straw shows how far forensic science has come since 1984—and how critical it is to preserve evidence even when cases go cold.

However, with only 61.4% of murders being cleared in 2024, thousands of families like the Fuscos continue waiting for answers. Theresa’s father waited 41 years—his wife died before seeing justice. Every unsolved case represents not just a statistic, but a family living in limbo, wondering if they’ll ever know the truth.

💬 We Want to Hear From You!

We love hearing from our Case Crackers community, and your feedback helps us make each edition better than the last! This week, we want to ask you:

What content would you like to see more of in the newsletter?

• Are you interested in cases involving wrongful convictions and eventual exonerations?
• Would you like more deep dives into the forensic science behind DNA evidence and genetic genealogy?
• Do you enjoy learning about legal precedents and privacy issues in criminal investigations?
• Should we feature more “then and now” comparisons showing how forensic technology has evolved?

Your input is invaluable, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts! Drop us a reply or fill out this quick feedback form HERE. Together, we can make Solved Files your ultimate true crime resource.

🔦 This Week’s Must-Watch Moment

📺 Watch the Full Investigation on YouTube

This week’s newsletter shows how a discarded smoothie straw solved a 40-year-old murder. But modern cases are just as compelling, and our YouTube channel takes you inside the investigations as they unfold.

🎥 LATEST VIDEO: “Moments After Finding A Corpse In His Neighbor’s House”.

Inside the full video:

• The chilling 911 call when Timmy Brown discovers a body in his late mother’s vacant house in Hobbs, New Mexico.
• The discovery of 39-year-old Eric Cano, slumped on the bedroom floor with two close-range gunshot wounds.
• How what looked like an overdose quickly turned into a homicide investigation.
• The single shoe print in the sand that became the key piece of evidence.
• The family feud, drug connections, and property dispute that led to murder.
• CCTV footage that identified the killer, and the nephew’s shocking arrest. This case shows how jealousy, addiction, and family disputes can erupt into deadly violence, and how detectives used forensic evidence and surveillance to expose the truth.

👉 Watch now on Solved Files True Crime Channel and see how investigators pieced together the evidence that led to justice. Subscribe for weekly solved case investigations featuring:

• Real 911 calls and police bodycam footage
• Interrogation room confessions
• Forensic evidence breakdowns
• The moment detectives crack the case

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YouTube → Full documentary-style breakdowns of solved cases

💡 Thanks for following along this week.
Theresa Fusco waited 41 years for justice—three innocent men lost nearly 18 years of their lives—and her father never gave up hope. This case proves that persistence, advancing science, and the courage to admit past mistakes can finally deliver truth. Each investigation is another puzzle piece, and together we’re piecing the story into focus. Keep your eyes sharp, your curiosity alive, and don’t forget—the next lead is always around the corner.

Until next week, Case Crackers. 🔍