Former U.S. Army Soldier Arrested in Connection with Cold Case Murder in Germany

A woman, known for leaving her bathroom window open for her cats, was brutally stabbed 37 times in her apartment in Germany back in June 1978. Now, after decades of investigation, a breakthrough has been made in the case.

According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, James Patrick Dempsey, a former U.S. Army soldier, has been arrested in connection with the murder. Dempsey, a 66-year-old resident of Oneida, New York, has also been accused of raping the woman, as reported by Syracuse.com.

German investigators reopened the case in 2020, and their suspicions led them to believe that the perpetrator was an American soldier. Fingerprint evidence collected from the crime scene over 45 years ago was sent to an FBI liaison officer in Berlin, who found a match in a U.S. database. The fingerprints belonged to James Patrick Dempsey.

Further evidence was gathered when the FBI seized trash from Dempsey’s home. A DNA comparison conducted in 2022 revealed that the DNA found in his garbage matched semen and skin samples from the crime scene. The likelihood of this match occurring by chance was determined to be an astonishing 1 in 270 quadrillion.

On February 13, Dempsey was arrested and is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is set to be extradited to Germany to face charges. Extradition proceedings are scheduled for February 21.

The Murder and Investigation

The victim, Bärbel Gansau, lived in Ludwigsburg, a town about 9 miles north of Stuttgart, where Dempsey was stationed from late 1977 to late 1978. Gansau was known for leaving her bathroom window open to allow her cats to roam outside. It was through this window that the perpetrator gained access to her apartment.

The case remained unsolved for decades until German investigators decided to revisit it in 2020. Their suspicions of an American soldier’s involvement led them to send fingerprint evidence to the FBI in Berlin. The fingerprints collected from the bathroom window were ultimately matched to James Patrick Dempsey.

The arrest of Dempsey marks a significant development in a case that has haunted the German authorities for over four decades. The victim’s family and the community can finally find some closure knowing that justice may soon be served.

Extradition and Legal Proceedings

Dempsey’s extradition to Germany is imminent, as confirmed by officials. The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for his custody until the extradition proceedings, which are scheduled for February 21.

The legal representation for James Patrick Dempsey is currently unknown, as information regarding his lawyer was not immediately available.

Oneida, Dempsey’s place of residence, is located approximately 30 miles east of Syracuse, New York.

Similar Cold Cases

The arrest of James Patrick Dempsey in connection with the 1978 cold case murder in Germany brings to light the importance of revisiting unsolved cases. In recent years, several other similar cases have seen breakthroughs.

Remains thought to be man identified 25 years later as missing woman, Arizona cops say

Body found in creekbed 30 years ago identified as missing California woman, cops say

Submerged car with human remains found, NC cops say. It could solve 41-year cold case

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These cases serve as a reminder that justice can prevail even after many years, giving hope to families and communities affected by unsolved crimes.