GUILTY MN - Jeanne “Jeanie” Childs, 35, murdered, napkin DNA linked to Jerry Westrom, Minneapolis, 1993 *Arrest 2019

[Niner]

None listed since hearing was initiated on Dec. 11, @Niner, nor is there any record of decision.
C-Track - Public Site
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Okay - thanks for checking this out! Will try again in a few months...

 

[dotr]

Premieres Apr 28, 2025 #coldcase #truecrime #documentary
The 1993 murder case of Jeanie Childs went unsolved for 26 years. But this Minnesota cold case story captured worldwide attention when DNA, social media, and dedicated detectives ultimately led to the killer. This gripping new Minneapolis murder documentary tells Jeanie’s story in a way you’ve never heard before. WCCO journalists Jennifer Mayerle and Grant Verdon take you inside Jeanie’s happy but troubled life, the murder mystery that challenged investigators for decades, and the pursuit of justice that surprised many.

April 26 2025

 

[Niner]

@ifindedout - wonder if there is any updates on the arguments? TIA!

 

[dotr]

Man charged in cold case murder, sexual assaults could have more victims, police say

Robert Castillo, 61, was arrested April 10 after DNA evidence allegedly linked him to the death of a 43-year-old Fresno woman and two sexual assault cases.

www.latimes.com

''A 61-year-old Fresno man whose DNA was linked to a cold-case murder and two rape cases from the early 2000s could be responsible for other crimes, authorities said.

Robert Castillo was arrested April 10 at his home in northwest Fresno on suspicion of sexually assaulting and killing 43-year-old Barbara Lee, also known as Barbara Parker, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Lee was found dead in a dirt field between the intersections of California and Polk Avenues on Oct. 31, 2004.''

Apr 28, 2025 #wcco #truecrime #coldcase
On February 14, 2019 Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced murder charges against Jerry Westrom. He explained to reporters how DNA placed Westrom at the 1993 crime scene. Reporter questions have been edited out because they were not on microphone and inaudible in this recording.

 

[dotr]

May 16, 2025
WCCO's Jennifer Mayerle did a deep dive into the 1993 murder of Jeanie Childs. Erin Moriarty is now sharing the reporting nationwide in this week's "48 Hours" episode.
May 16 2025 rbbm.

Rare clue at Minneapolis crime scene points to a barefoot killer

"In Minnesota here, people are not committing crimes a lot of times with the socks and shoes off," said a forensic scientist about footprints left in the victim's blood.

www.cbsnews.com

''Childs had been stabbed more than 60 times. As investigators tried to piece together what unfolded, they found a rare clue in the bedroom: bloody, bare footprints.

"That drew my attention right away … I mean, wow," Bart Epstein, a retired forensic scientist, told "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty in "The Footprint," airing May 17 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. "You don't see this at crime scenes in general, bare feet that have stepped in blood," said Epstein.''

 

[imstilla.grandma]

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[dotr]

June 12, 2025

Criminal justice forensics professor teaches Jeanie Childs murder case: "You have to look at everything"

It's been 32 years since the brutal murder of Jeanie Childs in Minneapolis. The case went unsolved for decades until DNA and new technology led cold case investigators to her killer. It also caught the attention of college professor Lisa Andrews.

www.cbsnews.com

'The crime is the subject of "A WCCO Original: Footprint to Murder," and it's a case that also caught the attention of college professor Lisa Andrews, who teaches forensics in criminal justice. Senior investigative reporter Jennifer Mayerle uncovered why this case is a good study for students. '

"The way they're able to solve these with DNA is because some cop or some crime scene person packaged that evidence so well all those years ago that it didn't deteriorate. So that's kind of was my interest initially," she said. "But we also have this footprint, which is very rare. So I teach that in my class, so I'm like, 'here's a real-life case that we'll probably never see again like this,' and how our footprints are just as unique as our fingerprints."
'You can watch the full documentary, "A WCCO Original: Footprint to Murder," here.'

 

[Niner]

@dotr - I was wondering what happened to Westrom's appeal back in 12/2023??

my notes from then:
12/10/23 Update: The Minnesota Supreme Court on appeal on 12/11/23. Westrom maintains his innocence. He says his first trial had ineffective counsel, prosecutorial misconduct & a lack of evidence. 12/11/23 Update: Court proceedings began for his appeal. Court documents show Westrom is raising the following issues to the Minnesota Supreme Court: Whether the district court erred when it denied Westrom’s motion to suppress the state’s DNA evidence. Whether the district court abused its discretion when it denied Westrom’s motion to introduce evidence of additional alternative perpetrators. Whether the district court abused its discretion when it excluded the testimony of defense expert Dr. Michael Nirenberg. Whether the state committed prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct during its closing argument & rebuttal. Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict Westrom if the charged offenses. Whether trial counsel’s performance was so constitutionally deficient that it likely affected the outcome of the proceedings. Whether the cumulative errors in the proceedings deprived Westrom of his right to a fair trial.'