The 1984 murder of Theresa Fusco, a 16-year-old girl from Lynbrook, New York, remained unresolved for more than four decades before advances in forensic DNA testing led to a new arrest. On October 14, 2025, authorities arrested Richard Bilodeau, then 63, after genetic genealogy identified him as a suspect and DNA recovered from a discarded smoothie straw reportedly matched evidence preserved from Fusco's body. The breakthrough followed the wrongful convictions of three men who had spent approximately 17 years in prison. Bilodeau pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. As of November 2026, no final criminal verdict has been independently verified.
Theresa Fusco Murder Case: Key Facts
| Victim | Theresa Fusco |
|---|---|
| Age | 16 |
| Location | Lynbrook, Long Island, New York |
| Date Missing | November 10, 1984 |
| Body Discovered | December 5, 1984 |
| Cause of Death | Ligature strangulation |
| Suspect Charged | Richard Bilodeau |
| Arrest Date | October 14, 2025 |
| Charges | Two counts of second-degree murder |
| Key Evidence | Preserved biological evidence, genetic genealogy and DNA from a discarded straw |
| Legal Status | Not-guilty plea; no verified final verdict as of November 2026 |
What Happened to Theresa Fusco in 1984?
Theresa Fusco was a high school student working part-time at Hot Skates, a roller-skating rink in Lynbrook on Long Island.
On November 10, 1984, she disappeared after leaving the rink shortly before 10 p.m.
When she failed to return home, her family reported her missing, prompting an investigation and community search.
On December 5, 1984, investigators discovered her body beneath leaves in a wooded area near the roller rink.
An autopsy determined that Fusco had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a ligature.
The killing devastated her family and eventually became one of Long Island's most troubling wrongful-conviction cases.
Three Men Were Wrongfully Convicted
In 1986, John Kogut, John Restivo and Dennis Halstead were convicted in connection with Fusco's murder.
The prosecution relied partly on disputed confession evidence and microscopic hair comparisons.
All three men received lengthy prison sentences.
Years later, advances in DNA testing revealed that biological evidence recovered from Fusco did not match any of the convicted men.
Their convictions were overturned in 2003, approximately 17 years after their imprisonment began.
Charges against Restivo and Halstead were subsequently dismissed. Kogut faced a retrial and was acquitted in 2005.
In later civil litigation, a federal jury found that the lead detective had fabricated hair evidence and concealed relevant information. Restivo and Halstead were each awarded $18 million in wrongful-imprisonment damages.
The exonerations exposed serious failures in the original investigation while leaving Fusco's murder unresolved.
How DNA Testing Reopened the Cold Case
Although DNA testing helped clear the three men, it did not immediately identify the person whose biological material had been recovered.
Traditional forensic DNA profiling can compare a crime-scene sample with a known person's profile or database records, but it does not always produce a suspect.
For years, the unidentified DNA remained an important clue without a confirmed source.
In 2023, the Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner and the FBI submitted preserved evidence to Othram, a forensic laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas.
Othram scientists used advanced forensic-grade genome sequencing to develop a more comprehensive genetic profile.
That profile enabled investigators to use forensic genetic genealogy to search for possible familial connections.
How Genetic Genealogy Identified Richard Bilodeau
Forensic genetic genealogy combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify unknown individuals through genetic relatives.
Investigators examine permitted genetic data, construct possible family relationships and develop leads for further investigation.
In Fusco's case, Othram developed the genetic profile, while the FBI's forensic genetic genealogy team investigated potential family connections.
The investigation eventually identified Richard Bilodeau of Center Moriches, New York, as a potential suspect.
According to prosecutors, Bilodeau was 23 when Fusco disappeared and lived with his grandparents in Lynbrook.
His residence was approximately one mile from the Hot Skates rink and Fusco's home.
That proximity was relevant background information, but it was the subsequent DNA comparison that prosecutors presented as the strongest connection to the crime.
The Smoothie Straw That Became Critical Evidence
After Bilodeau emerged as an investigative lead, authorities placed him under surveillance.
In February 2024, investigators recovered a cup and straw that Bilodeau had used and discarded at a smoothie shop in Suffolk County.
Forensic specialists extracted DNA from the straw and compared it with biological evidence collected from Fusco in 1984.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, the samples matched.
The discovery helped investigators move from a genealogical lead to a direct DNA comparison involving an identified individual.
The distinction is important: genetic genealogy helped narrow the search, while the discarded straw supplied a reference sample that prosecutors say connects Bilodeau to the preserved evidence.
Richard Bilodeau Arrested and Charged in 2025
On October 14, 2025, Nassau County Police Department homicide detectives arrested Bilodeau.
The following day, he appeared before Judge Helene Gugerty in Nassau County Court.
Bilodeau was charged with two counts of second-degree murder:
- Intentional second-degree murder.
- Second-degree murder committed during the course of a rape.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to custody.
Prosecutors said he could face a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Although investigators publicly expressed confidence in the DNA evidence, the charges remain allegations unless established through a criminal conviction.
What Did Theresa Fusco's Family Say?
Theresa's father, Thomas Fusco, attended the October 2025 arraignment and spoke about the emotional burden his family had carried for decades.
He expressed his continued love for his daughter and the pain of revisiting the case after so many years.
The arrest represented a significant development for the family, which had experienced decades of uncertainty and the collapse of the original convictions.
However, the criminal proceedings against Bilodeau had not reached a verified final conclusion.
Were Other Long Island Murders Connected?
Fusco disappeared during a period when other young women from the same Long Island area were also reported missing or killed.
Kelly Morrissey, 15, disappeared in June 1984. Jackie Martarella, 19, disappeared several months after Fusco.
The timing and geographic proximity prompted questions about whether the cases were connected.
However, there is no verified criminal finding establishing that Bilodeau was responsible for either of those other cases.
His October 2025 indictment concerned Theresa Fusco's murder only.
Theresa Fusco Murder Investigation Timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| November 10, 1984 | Theresa Fusco disappears after leaving Hot Skates in Lynbrook. |
| December 5, 1984 | Her body is discovered in a wooded area near the rink. |
| 1986 | John Kogut, John Restivo and Dennis Halstead are convicted. |
| 2003 | DNA evidence leads to the original convictions being overturned. |
| 2005 | Kogut is acquitted after a retrial. |
| 2023 | Preserved biological evidence is submitted to Othram for advanced DNA testing. |
| February 2024 | Investigators recover DNA from a discarded smoothie straw. |
| October 14, 2025 | Richard Bilodeau is arrested. |
| October 15, 2025 | Bilodeau is arraigned and pleads not guilty. |
| April 25, 2026 | CBS's 48 Hours airs The Killing of Theresa Fusco. |
| November 2026 | No final criminal verdict independently verified. |
Latest Theresa Fusco Case Update in 2026
In April 2026, CBS's 48 Hours revisited the investigation in an episode titled The Killing of Theresa Fusco.
The program examined the wrongful convictions, the use of genetic genealogy and the evidence that led prosecutors to charge Bilodeau.
An A&E Crime + Investigation article updated in July 2026 also described Bilodeau as an accused suspect who had pleaded not guilty.
As of November 11, 2026, the public sources reviewed do not establish a final conviction, acquittal or sentence.
Therefore, the case should be described as a major cold-case investigative breakthrough rather than a legally resolved murder prosecution.
Why Forensic Genetic Genealogy Matters
Theresa Fusco's case demonstrates how biological evidence preserved for decades can remain valuable as forensic technology improves.
DNA testing first played a crucial role in overturning wrongful convictions. Years later, advanced sequencing and genetic genealogy generated a new investigative lead.
A direct DNA comparison then provided evidence prosecutors relied upon to bring criminal charges.
The case also highlights the importance of protecting against investigative errors, carefully interpreting forensic evidence and respecting the presumption of innocence.
Genetic genealogy can help reopen investigations, but identifying a suspect is not the same as proving guilt in court.
Conclusion
The 1984 murder of Theresa Fusco remained unresolved for more than 40 years despite an investigation that initially sent three innocent men to prison.
Modern DNA sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy eventually led investigators to Richard Bilodeau, whose DNA reportedly matched evidence preserved from the crime scene.
He was arrested in October 2025 and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
As of November 2026, Bilodeau has pleaded not guilty and no final verdict has been independently confirmed.
The case illustrates both the extraordinary potential of modern forensic science and the lasting consequences of wrongful convictions, while demonstrating why a breakthrough in a criminal investigation must be distinguished from a completed legal judgment.