The Science of Justice: DNA, forensic technology could soon help authorities get closer to solving 33-year-old murder mystery in Lehigh Valley | Lehigh Valley

It is really a issue that has gone unanswered for 33 years: Who killed 78-12 months-outdated Rose Hnath of North Whitehall? But advancements in DNA and forensic technology could crack the case vast open up. 69 News Reporter Jaccii Farris begins a 3-aspect sequence on Rose’s murder, the investigation, and the science of justice.

NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – 71-calendar year-previous Rosalie Williams life in her dream property.

“Each time I went past this put, I just used to glimpse at it and believe one particular day I’m gonna purchase that spot,” Rosalie mentioned.

At any time considering that she moved into the North Whitehall dwelling much more than a few decades in the past, she regularly thinks of the house’s preceding owner, 78-yr-old Rose Hnath.

“This was surely not the way I wished to obtain a house,” Rosalie said.

January 1989. Poison tops the pop charts, George H.W. Bush is sworn in as President, and listed here in the Lehigh Valley people are determining involving Rain Person and Beach locations at the box office environment.

The widow Rose Hnath life a tranquil everyday living due to the fact retiring from the D&D shirt manufacturing facility. And although she and her late partner Michael failed to have little ones, she cherishes the youngsters in her extended family members.

“She appreciated observing them running around, obtaining in trouble as young children do,” said Tom Szivos.

The new calendar year is a clean begin for Rose. New occasions have been unsettling.

“The day after Xmas her house was basically burglarized when she was not household,” reported Det. Thomas AcAndrew, with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office environment.

Law enforcement say a firearm and some jewelry was taken. But Rose does not permit it upset her regime.

She’s a frequent at St. John the Baptist Church in Northampton, and lunches with the girls following companies. But on January 21, Rose doesn’t present up. Her nephew goes to check out on her.

“When he arrived he observed his aunt stabbed and crushed in the dwelling place,” mentioned Det. Robert Devers with Pennsylvania State Police Troop M.

Rose’s family states it was a brutal scene.

“I necessarily mean, you could see wherever she was staying chased,” reported William Unangst, Rose’s great nephew. “I just don’t forget blood was all over the place, blooded handprints everywhere.”

Rose was stabbed 28 instances, and bludgeoned. Investigators say the assassin discarded one of the murder weapons outside the house when fleeing the house.

Although law enforcement started their investigation, Rose’s family members organized her burial. There was an open up casket at Rose’s funeral. Some spouse and children associates couldn’t deliver them selves to show up at.

“Her facial expression was the expression she had when this was occurring to her, like of terror, a terror mask on her encounter,” reported Joanie Szivos, Rose’s wonderful niece.

Rose Hnath was laid to relaxation future to her spouse at St. John’s Cemetery in Northampton.

Since then, investigators have been searching for her killer. 33 years later, it truly is a chilly case which is about to warmth up thanks to present day engineering.