Cold Case Solved: DNA Links Suspect to 30-Year-Old Murder
In a breakthrough moment three decades in the making, law enforcement has cracked a chilling cold case involving the tragic death of 23-year-old Roslin Kruse in Florida. The key to solving the puzzle? A DNA sample collected from the suspect’s daughter.
Kruse’s last known whereabouts date back to November 1, 1993, just hours before her lifeless body was discovered. Investigators uncovered that she had entered a vehicle with an unidentified man on that fateful day. Their actions raised suspicion as they ventured into a residence on 13102 Mike Drive near Tampa.
It was revealed that the man behind the wheel that day was Michael Rizzo, who lived less than a mile from where Kruse’s body was found. Rizzo claimed he had dropped her off safe and sound, vehemently denying any involvement in her tragic demise. Despite his insistence, a polygraph test indicated deception, and conflicting statements from Rizzo’s wife and girlfriend at the time only complicated the case further. Yet, authorities lacked the necessary evidence to apprehend him.
Fast forward to November 2021 when Rizzo’s biological daughter willingly provided a cheek swab to detectives. This crucial DNA sample matched biological material preserved from the crime scene, a staggering 30 years earlier. Sadly, Rizzo himself had passed away on March 1, 2011, at the age of 62, leaving behind two daughters and a son.
Despite Rizzo’s demise, law enforcement met with Kruse’s surviving family members to deliver the news that the long-standing mystery had been unraveled. On Friday, the case was officially closed.
Sheriff Chad Chronister remarked, “This investigation demonstrates the commitment of our cold case investigators to bring justice to victims and their families, no matter how much time has passed. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Kruse’s family, and we hope the resolution of this case can provide them with some closure.”
Rizzo had previously crossed paths with the law enforcement department after the murder, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times, for violating probation stemming from previous charges of cocaine possession and providing false information to obtain a driver’s license.
As of the time of this report, Fox News Digital has been unable to reach the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office or Kruse’s surviving family for comment.