NC- Mary Mathis Davis, 29, strangled to death, LEXINGTON, 30/5/87, DNA identified suspect, 2023

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North Carolina family gets closure after authorities solve 36-year-old murder case

LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — A family left the Lexington Police Department on Monday crying tears of joy after finding out that authorities had solved the 1987 murder of a loved one. DNA helped s…

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Lexington Police solve 36 year old murder case through DNA evidence

The Lexington Police Department announced on Tuesday they have solved a murder case from 36 years ago through DNA evidence.

www.the-dispatch.com

''LEXINGTON - The Lexington Police Department announced on Tuesday they have solved a murder case from 36 years ago where a woman went missing from work and was found strangled to death.

On May 30, 1987, Mary Mathis Davis, 29, left for lunch from her job at Lanier’s Hardware, but never returned. The following day her body was found behind the (former) Winn Dixie at 802 East Center Street.

Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage said investigators collected a variety of evidence from the scene, but at that time there wasn’t technology to process DNA evidence and the case had remained unsolved. But recently, investigators resubmitted some physical evidence and were able to identify a suspect through a comprehensive genealogical profile, which corroborated with other evidence.''

“Investigators in 1987 collected evidence that at the time really didn’t serve a lot of purpose, but the wisdom of collecting them is the reason we are here today. That evidence wasn’t viable in assisting the case until very, very recently,” said Rummage.

Rummage said after getting feedback on the submitted evidence from the state crime lab in 2022, investigators with the Lexington Police contacted the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, who partnered with Othram Inc. to build a comprehensive genealogy profile from the remaining DNA evidence. This profile was used to produce investigative leads in the case and ultimately in identifying the suspect.''

''The suspect was identified as Russell Grant Wood of Lexington who died in 2013 when he was 58-years-old. If he had lived, he would have been charged with felony first-degree murder, felony first-degree kidnapping and felony first-degree rape.''

 

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After 36 years, Mary Mathis Davis' Killer is Identified

NC State Bureau of Investigation and Lexington PD Team with Othram to Identify the 1987 Rapist and Murderer of Mary Mathis Davis

dnasolves.com

''The suspect in the rape and murder of Mary Mathis Davis has been identified as Russell Grant Wood of Lexington, North Carolina, however he died in 2013, and will therefore not be indicted.''​

''Summary​

In May 1987, 29-year-old mother of two, Mary Davis, was reported missing, being last seen at Lanier Hardware where she worked. Shortly after, Mary Davis’s body was found behind 802 East Center Street in Lexington, North Carolina. In 1987, there was a Winn-Dixie grocery store at this location.

Investigators in 1987 collected evidence that not until recently was viable in assisting in the case. As with all homicide investigations, Mary Davis’s case has remained open and assigned to investigators throughout the years. In reviewing the evidence and knowing that technology has been evolving, current investigators submitted physical evidence to the NC State Crime Lab for examination. Based on those findings, contact was made with the NC State Bureau of Investigation to review possibilities of moving forward with the newest findings. Through the advancement of DNA technology, the NC State Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with Othram, undertook the complex process of utilizing the most recent advancements in DNA to provide evidence that led to identifying the offender in the murder of Mary Davis.

DNA evidence from the case was sent to Othram and their scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile for an unknown male suspect. Othram built a comprehensive genealogy profile from the remaining DNA extract and then Othram's in-house genealogical team used the profile to produce investigative leads. Othram then returned investigative leads to Investigators. As part of a follow-up investigation, law enforcement investigators were able to identify the suspect.

Corroborated by information gained throughout the years from other investigators, Lexington Police investigators and the NC State Bureau of Investigation presented the evidence to District Attorney Garry Frank. The offender in this case, Russell Grant Wood of Lexington, died in 2013. Based on the evidence presented, Mr. Frank provided an official letter indicating that, if alive today, the State would proceed with indictments for the offenses of: First-Degree Murder, First-Degree Kidnapping, and First-Degree Rape charging Russell Grant Wood with these crimes.

After the initial contact with Mary’s family in February 2023, investigators met with Mary’s family, to share with them in more detail what has transpired in the case.''

 

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I’m glad that these cases get attention but I worry about room for error, or worse, when these suspects are already worse. That isn’t necessarily my thinking in the case here but just a general concern to be cautious of.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

On May 30, 1987, Mary Mathis Davis, 29, left for lunch from her job at Lanier’s Hardware, but never returned. The following day her body was found behind the (former) Winn Dixie at 802 East Center Street.

Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage said investigators collected a variety of evidence from the scene, but at that time there wasn’t technology to process DNA evidence and the case had remained unsolved. But recently, investigators resubmitted some physical evidence and were able to identify a suspect through a comprehensive genealogical profile, which corroborated with other evidence.

Lexington Police solve 36 year old murder case through DNA evidence

The Lexington Police Department announced on Tuesday they have solved a murder case from 36 years ago through DNA evidence.

www.the-dispatch.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A partnership between the Lexington Police Department, the NC State crime lab, and the SBI, key partner Othram Lab Inc., helped put the missing pieces together.

"It was earlier this year that we got called in to help," said Dr. Kristen Mittelman

Othram Inc. is a private entity that uses advanced genomics sequencing to understand DNA.

"We figured out how to use this advanced genomics technology to sequence intractable evidence rather than to sequence evidence that is in high quantities of fresh DNA, non-contaminated DNA," explained Mittelman.

Mittelman said DNA evidence from the Mary Davis case was sent to their scientists to develop a profile of the suspect for an investigative lead.

"We use the most powerful sequencer on earth right now to be able to take pictures of the DNA and we get hundreds of thousands of markers on the DNA profile and then we upload the profile to genealogical databases consented for law enforcement use once it’s uploaded you get matches," said Mittelman.

"It was the magic piece that needed to seal the deal," Robby Rummage with Lexington Police Chief on Othram said.
Mittelman says it wasn’t until recent years more complex DNA profile technology was built.

"This crime was from 1987 even standard forensic DNA testing didn’t really come into play until the early '90s," said Mittelman.

Private lab company helps crack a 36-year-old Lexington cold case: Here's how they did it

The Lexington Police Chief says Othram Labs Incorporated used advanced technology to solve the case.

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