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A discarded straw leads to murder charges in 1984 killing of New York teen
DNA from a discarded straw led to Richard Bilodeau's indictment, overturning wrongful convictions of three men who served years before exoneration, prosecutors said.
- On Tuesday, a Nassau County grand jury indicted Richard Bilodeau, 63, of Center Moriches, on two counts of murder in the death of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco.
- Investigators recovered a cup and straw Bilodeau discarded in October 2025 at a Suffolk County smoothie café, and DNA from the straw matched Fusco's 1984 remains.
- Three men previously convicted and exonerated served years before DNA evidence led to a new suspect's indictment, and two exonerated men received $18 million each, prosecutors said.
- Bilodeau pleaded not guilty Wednesday and was remanded to county jail, and if convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life, Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
- Four decades later, DNA evidence from a discarded straw produced a new indictment in the Fusco case, exposing errors that sent the wrongly convicted men to prison.
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Suspect in Teen's 1984 Murder Allegedly Uttered Cryptic Words When He Was Recently Confronted by Police
Richard Bilodeau, 63, is accused of raping and killing 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, who was found dead near the roller rink where she worked on Long Island avid_creative/GettyNEED TO KNOWA New York man has been accused by prosecutors of raping and killing a 16-year-old girl in 1984The victim, 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, was found dead near the roller rink where she worked on Long IslandProsecutors claim Richard Bilodeau, 63, was recently linked to …
·United States
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Associated Press News+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
A discarded straw leads to murder charges in 1984 killing of New York teen
Prosecutors say DNA obtained from a discarded straw has led to the indictment of a man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a New York teenager more than 40 years ago.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources25
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution76% Center
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources are Center
76% Center
L 19%
C 76%
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