Fugitive Killed in Ohio Shootout, Linked to 1981 Cold Case Murder
James Vanest, 68, killed in a shootout with authorities in November, has been identified as the perpetrator in the 1981 murder of Debra Miller. Advanced DNA analysis linked Vanest’s genetic material to evidence from the crime scene, despite his initial denials and subsequent flight from Ohio. The reopened investigation, utilizing modern DNA techniques, ultimately solved the decades-old cold case. Authorities hope this brings closure to Miller’s family.
John Q. Hosedrinker