Chicago Police Solve 65-Year-Old Murder Of 8-Year-Old Girl

Chicago police have identified former officer Thomas Francis McInerney as the person responsible for the 1960 murder of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz, resolving a cold case that remained unsolved for more than 65 years.

The investigation gained momentum after the FBI used genetic genealogy to analyze DNA recovered from Gloria’s clothing and develop investigative leads.

McInerney died in 2006 without facing charges in the case. Gloria’s brother, Adam Kowalewicz, expressed relief that his family finally had answers but lamented that the suspect had never faced justice.

The case’s resolution highlights how advances in DNA analysis and traditional forensic techniques can help investigators revisit longstanding unsolved crimes and provide answers to victims’ families.

Related Tweet:

Chicago police solve a 65-year-old cold case, discovering that the man responsible for killing a little girl in the 1960s was a homicide detective for the police department. https://t.co/X4S7cICkDb

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 13, 2026

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tippinsightsTIPP Staff