Investigators are revisiting evidence in the 2006 murder of Helen McPherson, an 87-year-old Vero Beach woman, using new DNA technology and other advanced tools to uncover potential leads. McPherson was murdered in 2006, and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office has ruled out robbery as a motive. Detectives have continued to re-examine evidence over the years as forensic technology improved. Now, investigators say new testing methods may allow them to analyze evidence from the crime scene that could not be fully tested in the past. Detectives are urging anyone who may have withheld information to come forward.”It’s time to come forward with information if they have it,” said Ed Glaser, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office cold case coordinator. “Some people sit on it; they might have had a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a brother, or a sister that knows something about this, but they don’t say anything because of the loyalty factor or a fear factor.” Glaser, who left the sheriff’s office in 2006 and returned three years ago, said investigators are waiting for results to determine whether there is enough DNA to identify a person of interest or use genetic genealogy to build a family tree. Officials are also employing updated fingerprint tools and artificial intelligence to re-examine evidence in the case. Detectives emphasize that even the smallest detail could help solve the case and urge anyone with information to contact them.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
Investigators are revisiting evidence in the 2006 murder of Helen McPherson, an 87-year-old Vero Beach woman, using new DNA technology and other advanced tools to uncover potential leads.
McPherson was murdered in 2006, and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office has ruled out robbery as a motive. Detectives have continued to re-examine evidence over the years as forensic technology improved. Now, investigators say new testing methods may allow them to analyze evidence from the crime scene that could not be fully tested in the past.
Detectives are urging anyone who may have withheld information to come forward.
“It’s time to come forward with information if they have it,” said Ed Glaser, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office cold case coordinator. “Some people sit on it; they might have had a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a brother, or a sister that knows something about this, but they don’t say anything because of the loyalty factor or a fear factor.”
Glaser, who left the sheriff’s office in 2006 and returned three years ago, said investigators are waiting for results to determine whether there is enough DNA to identify a person of interest or use genetic genealogy to build a family tree.
Officials are also employing updated fingerprint tools and artificial intelligence to re-examine evidence in the case.
Detectives emphasize that even the smallest detail could help solve the case and urge anyone with information to contact them.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News