The 1975 homicide of a Maryland girl was lastly solved with the assistance of an previous cassette tape and the mugshot of the sufferer, authorities introduced Tuesday.
The chilly case of Roseann Sturtz, who was strangled to demise after assembly her assailant at a bar on Aug. 24, 1975, was a thriller for many years till Howard County police revived the probe late final yr and uncovered proof a convicted killer already in jail dedicated the crime.
Detectives found a 1981 audio tape wherein Charles William Davis Jr., then incarcerated at Jessup Correctional Institute, was requested concerning the homicide in alternate for not dealing with costs within the case.
On the time, Davis couldn’t determine Sturtz, who lived in Baltimore and glided by Ann, as one in all his victims after he was proven a photograph taken of her a number of years earlier than her homicide, police stated.
However Howard County police Cpl. Wade Zufall then introduced Davis from the identical jail to police headquarters final yr to interview him once more 44 years later.
He confirmed Davis a more moderen picture of Sturtz – her in a mugshot — from a month earlier than she was killed.
This time he recognized her as one in all his victims and admitted to the slaying.
Footage launched from the interview reveals Sturtz nodding his head as he took a take a look at the picture.
“In November 2024, we were grateful to have all the case details, learned Roseann’s actual date of death and receive the closure we have been praying for all these years — finally put to rest the answers we never had,” Sturtz’s household stated in an announcement by means of the police division.
Davis advised police after assembly Sturtz at a bar, the pair bought into an argument earlier than the homicide, Zufall stated.
Davis landed on authorities’ radar in 1981 after police studied Davis’ confirmed victims and in contrast them to Sturtz, Zufall stated throughout a press convention.
Davis can’t be charged with the homicide, however is already in jail for all times for different killings.
“His main reason why he wanted to talk to me … was he wanted to give closure to the family,” Zufall stated.
