There was a breakthrough in a 42-year-old cold murder case from Broward County, Florida as DNA testing linked Ronald E. Richards (75) to the rape and murder of Evelyn Marie Fisher-Bamforth.
DNA Testing Links Ohio Prisoner to 1980 Florida Murder in Broward County
At the time of Fisher-Bamforth’s murder in late January 1980, Richards was a neighbor of the victim, living in the same mobile home park. He was on the list as a person of interest but DNA technology wasn’t as effective in 1980 as it would become.
Richards was convicted two years later for a separate rape and murder in Volusia County, Florida. That murder occurred in March 1980, a mere two months following the murder of Fisher-Bamforth. He was given 50 years in the March 1980 case and now this one has seen charges handed down.
At the time of the indictment, Richards was serving time in an Ohio prison for other charges. Miramar PD spokesperson Tania Rues credited the big breakthrough to “advancements in DNA technology” as well as the work Detective Jonathan Zeller:
“Due to advancements in DNA technology and the diligence and hard work of Detective Johnathan Zeller, Ronald Eugène Richards has been indicted for sexual battery and murder. We are one step closer to [obtaining] justice for Evelyn.”
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