N.C.- Kathryn Donohue, 31, discovered murdered, PINEHURST, 6 Sep,'79, DNA- suspect, Rodger Zodas Brown, 80's, *pending extradition to VA.* 2025.

[dotr]

After 46 years, Kathryn Donohue's Killer is Identified

Prince George's County Police Department and FBI Team with Othram to Identify Suspect in 1979 Murder

dnasolves.com

''On the evening of September 6, 1979, Kathryn Donohue was discovered murdered in her home. Law enforcement launched an immediate investigation and detectives collected forensic evidence from the crime scene, interviewed potential witnesses, and explored multiple leads. However, despite their efforts, the case grew cold due to the limitations of forensic technology at the time. Traditional DNA testing methods available in previous decades were unable to yield a viable suspect, leaving the case unsolved and Donohue’s family without answers.''

"Scientists at Othram were able to extract DNA from the evidence and develop a comprehensive genetic profile. The profile was delivered to the FBI's forensic genetic genealogy team. The FBI's team traced the DNA to potential relatives, which led investigators to Rodger Zodas Brown as a person of interest. After identifying Brown, PGPD investigators worked to obtain a reference DNA sample from him. When tested, his DNA matched the evidence collected from the crime scene, conclusively linking him to the murder of Kathryn Donohue.

Rodger Zodas Brown, now in his 80s, was arrested at his home in North Carolina without incident. At the time of Donohue’s murder, Brown lived in the area, but he had not been considered a suspect during the original investigation. Authorities are now working to determine whether Brown may be connected to any other unsolved crimes from that time period. He is currently awaiting extradition to Virginia, where he faces charges of first-degree murder. His arrest marks a critical step toward justice for Kathryn Donohue and her family, and it also highlights the power of forensic genetic genealogy in solving cases once thought to be unsolvable.'

'Continued support for forensic DNA research and testing is crucial to solving more cases like this. If you would like to help, consider contributing to forensic funding initiatives that assist law enforcement in resolving cold cases. Additionally, individuals can play a direct role in advancing forensic investigations by contributing their DNA data to DNASolves, in support of identification efforts.''

82-year-old NC man charged in connection with 1979 cold case murder in Maryland

The Moore County Sheriff's Office said the murder happened in March of 1979 in Glanarden, Maryland.

abc11.com

''PINEHURST, N.C. (WTVD) -- An 82-year-old Moore County man was charged in connection with a more than four-decade-old cold case in Maryland.''

'Authorities said Brown was taken into custody at his home on March 11 and charged in connection with the 1979 murder of 31-year-old Kathryn Donohue of Arlington, Virginia, whose body was found in a parking lot in Glenarden, Maryland.'

 

[dotr]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/18/prince-georges-police-cold-case-1979/

'Investigators were able to identify a relative of the man who allegedly raped and killed Donohue. The evidence pointed them toward 82-year-old Rodger Zodas Brown of Pinehurst, North Carolina, police said in the charging documents. They took a plastic fork from the trash can outside his home and tested the DNA, then knocked on his door and arrested him after it matched a sample taken from Donahue’s slip.'

''Braveboy said justice for Donohue is only the beginning using genetic genealogy testing.

“We believe that as we go into the future, we may be able to resolve more cases using this very important technology,” Braveboy said.''