A Missouri inmate serving a life sentence for killing a person was linked to the chilly case killings of 4 ladies who vanished greater than 30 years in the past after DNA proof linked him to the crimes.
The O’Fallon Police Division in Missouri introduced the replace Monday, the identical day prosecutors charged Gary Muehlberg, 73, with 4 counts of first-degree homicide.
The costs are associated to the deaths of Robyn Mihan, Brenda Pruitt, Donna Reitmeyer and Sandra Little, who went lacking from south St. Louis Metropolis between 1990 and 1991. The our bodies have been present in numerous places in Lincoln, St. Louis, and St. Charles counties, O’Fallon police mentioned in a Fb assertion.
Little’s physique was discovered on the aspect of an interstate in O’Fallon, police mentioned within the assertion.
Pruitt, who was 27 when she died, was discovered stuffed right into a trash can, Maryland Heights police mentioned in a information launch.
Det. Sgt. Jodi Weber with the O’Fallon Police Division started trying into the instances in 2008. She spent the following 14 years organizing witness statements, police experiences and bodily proof.
Weber despatched what she collected to crime labs to see if DNA could possibly be positioned, in keeping with the police assertion.
Authorities mentioned the development in scientific expertise helped crack the chilly case murders. In April, the St. Charles County Crime Lab technicians discovered DNA from a small quantity of viable proof. It was decided that the DNA belonged to Muehlberg, who was already serving a life sentence in Potosi Correctional Heart for an unrelated homicide.
“It could have taken some time, however your member of the family was not forgotten,” St. Charles County Prosecuting Legal professional Tim Lohmar mentioned at a information convention on Monday.
Based on the police assertion, Weber traveled to the jail on two separate events and spoke to Muehlberg, who allegedly confessed to killing Mihan, Pruitt and Little.
Shortly afterward, Muehlberg wrote a letter to Weber offering data on two extra killings, police mentioned of their assertion.
Based on the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch, Muehlberg additionally expressed regret for the killings, writing that he “should reside with my previous — the great and dangerous elements. No extra operating.”
Police mentioned Weber went again to the jail to talk with Muehlberg once more. Throughout that interview, he allegedly confessed to the 2 killings he talked about within the letter and supplied particulars on the slayings, police mentioned. Weber then used the data to determine Reitmeyer as one of many victims. The second sufferer has not but been recognized.
When requested in regards to the DNA match, Weber advised reporters that it was an “unbelievable” feeling.
Reitmeyer’s daughter, Daybreak McIntosh, mentioned on the information convention that she was thrilled to study in regards to the fees in opposition to Muehlberg and felt her mom might lastly relaxation.
“As a result of I don’t assume she rested in peace realizing that he was nonetheless on the market,” McIntosh mentioned. “So I’m glad he was caught.”
Mihan’s mom mentioned that her daughter had a smile that might gentle up a room.
“I had hounded the police and detectives without end, on and off, over time,” Saundra Kuehnle mentioned. “A very long time to attend, however all the things in God’s time.”
