FL - Slaying and rape of dementia victim from 1985 solved by DNA, Palm Beach Co. *arrest in 2021*

[TootsieFootsie]

Florida slaying and rape of dementia victim from 1985 solved by DNA, detectives say

FORT LAUDERDALE — A DNA test has led to the arrest of a suspect in the April 1985 slaying, rape and kidnapping of a 78-year-old woman who had dementia and had wandered away from her home.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that it had arrested Richard C. Lange, 61, on first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges.

The office did not release the victim’s name, but 1985 news stories identify her as Mildred Matheny, who was found unconscious, nude and beaten along a remote dirt road, about 25 miles from where she had disappeared seven hours earlier. She died 11 days later.

 

[SBops]

Florida slaying and rape of dementia victim from 1985 solved by DNA, detectives say

FORT LAUDERDALE — A DNA test has led to the arrest of a suspect in the April 1985 slaying, rape and kidnapping of a 78-year-old woman who had dementia and had wandered away from her home.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that it had arrested Richard C. Lange, 61, on first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges.

The office did not release the victim’s name, but 1985 news stories identify her as Mildred Matheny, who was found unconscious, nude and beaten along a remote dirt road, about 25 miles from where she had disappeared seven hours earlier. She died 11 days later.

He was 25!

 

[CptCari]

He was 25!

Makes you wonder what heinous things he could have been doing since then.

 

[Filly]

What a depraved, vile, sadistic "person". Who could do that? This poor woman.

He's a predator. He blatantly lied to people outside the fast food restraint saying this was his neighbor and he would drive her home.

Thank goodness they have DNA on file. Hoping this woman has rested in peace.

 

[Legally Bland]

Probable cause affidavit attached.

ETA link:

eCaseView

 

[Marg from Oz]

He must have thought he got away with it. Well he did for 36 years. Wonder what else he was up to in all that time. MOO

 

[cvaldez1975]

What a depraved, vile, sadistic "person". Who could do that? This poor woman.

He's a predator. He blatantly lied to people outside the fast food restraint saying this was his neighbor and he would drive her home.

Thank goodness they have DNA on file. Hoping this woman has rested in peace.

did u see another link? he really persuaded ppl to let him drive her home? that poor old woman wtf

 

[PayrollNerd]

Horrifying. This poor lady must have been so scared and confused. Unfortunately in 1985, people assumed he was telling the truth.

DNA leads cops to suspected killer in rape and beating of 78-year-old woman — 36 years ago

A Sheriff’s Office video on the case, released two years ago, said Matheny was reported missing about 4:30 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing Matheny get into a brown Oldsmobile sedan at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Lucerne Avenue. The witnesses told police that the man behind the wheel said he was Matheny’s neighbor and was going to help her get home.

 

[Filly]

did u see another link? he really persuaded ppl to let him drive her home? that poor old woman wtf

Nooooo, that's some sick ****. Going to look up more albeit I'll probably be sick. Twisted freak. Who does that?

 

[CptCari]

Nooooo, that's some sick ****. Going to look up more albeit I'll probably be sick. Twisted freak. Who does that?

The worst kind of human.

 

[SBops]

Horrifying. This poor lady must have been so scared and confused. Unfortunately in 1985, people assumed he was telling the truth.

DNA leads cops to suspected killer in rape and beating of 78-year-old woman — 36 years ago

A Sheriff’s Office video on the case, released two years ago, said Matheny was reported missing about 4:30 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing Matheny get into a brown Oldsmobile sedan at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Lucerne Avenue. The witnesses told police that the man behind the wheel said he was Matheny’s neighbor and was going to help her get home.

I don't understand why it has taken this long to charge him. He was seen with her and she was never seen alive again.

 

[LadyL]

!@#$%^&*
hope he rots in prison for life
or is there the death penalty there?

 

[dotr]

Jan 30 2023

Trial begins in cold case murder of elderly Lake Worth woman

Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of a local man charged with the rape and murder of a 78-year-old Lake Worth widow.

www.wpbf.com

''WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of a local man charged with the rape and murder of a 78-year-old Lake Worth widow.

It happened almost 40 years ago.

DNA led detectives to defendant Richard Lange after a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit reopened the case in 2021.

The woman was found unconscious, nude and beaten along a remote dirt road, about 25 miles from where she had disappeared seven hours earlier.

Deputies wheeled Lange, 62, into court in a wheelchair to face charges of kidnapping, rape and murder.

According to court documents, Lange was 25 when he came across Mildred Matheny, who suffered from dementia and had wandered away from her sister’s Lake Worth home.''

''Neighbors said they saw Matheny walking down the street in her pajamas, but no one saw her abduction.

A passerby found her hours later in Jupiter, unconscious and beaten, her bloodstained dentures and clothing strewn along the dirt road.''

 

[PayrollNerd]

Heartbreaking. Poor lady was probably so confused and frightened.

I hope they put him away for the rest of his miserable life.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial continues for Boynton Beach man arrested in 35-year-old cold case

Detectives arrested Richard Lange in 2021 and accused him of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and killing 78-year-old Mildred Matheny in 1985.

www.wflx.com