DNA evidence, 51-year-old murder case in Moab.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Cigarette ends and bar glasses marked the spot where Ann Woodward, co-owner of Woody’s Tavern, was last seen sitting next to a patron after closing time on a Friday night in 1973.
The following morning, the 46-year-old mother was found by her husband — robbed, assaulted, and strangled on the floor of her bar.
Authorities in Moab conducted a thorough investigation, identifying numerous men who had been present at the bar and gathering evidence. However, they were unable to definitively pinpoint the culprit.
Moab Police Department Detective Jeremy Drexler shared in an interview with the Moab Sun News, “They were determined to solve the case. All the necessary evidence was there, but the technology available at that time was insufficient to conclusively solve this crime.”
During the initial stages of the investigation, Douglas K. Chudomelka, a local miner, emerged as a prime suspect after a female acquaintance alleged that he had confessed to the crime. However, she later recanted her statement. Recent re-examination of the case implicated Chudomelka as the perpetrator.
“The authorities were eager to identify the individual who was seated next to Ann,” Drexler remarked. “Their hope was that the fingerprints on the bar glasses would lead them to the suspect.”
Regrettably, the glasses sent for analysis to the FBI yielded inconclusive results.
“The investigators reached an impasse,” Drexler explained. “There seemed to be no viable way forward. Nevertheless, they laid a solid foundation for the case to be resolved in the future.”
Assuming responsibility for the case, Drexler, with the support of Moab Police Chief Jared Garcia and current Chief Lex Bell, delved into the investigation.
Collaborating with officials from the Grand County Sheriff’s Department, Drexler uncovered evidence that had been preserved for decades, unsure of its extent and condition.
“It was truly a collaborative effort involving multiple departments,” Drexler acknowledged. “It took us just nine minutes to locate the evidence, and that was all it took.”
Discovering the boxes containing the stored evidence was a remarkable moment for Drexler.
“I stumbled upon these boxes in a warehouse, and they were impeccably preserved,” he recalled. “Upon opening one of the boxes, I realized it contained Ann’s clothing.”
“At that instant, I knew we had found our suspect.”
The officials forwarded the evidence, including Woodward’s clothing and a sample of Chudomelka’s hair, for DNA analysis utilizing advanced techniques at the state crime laboratory.
Subsequently, DNA retrieved from inside Woodward’s leg, identified as the murder weapon, was matched to Chudomelka.
“I am convinced that if this case were to be presented before a jury today, Chudomelka would have been found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt of murdering Ann Woodward,” affirmed Grand County Prosecutor Stephen Stocks during a press briefing.
Chudomelka left Moab following the murder and passed away in Nebraska in 2002.
Upon the official closure of the case, authorities intend to input Chudomelka’s DNA into the CODIS system, a network of databases comprising DNA profiles of convicted felons. This will enable law enforcement agencies nationwide to potentially link his DNA to any ongoing investigations.
“I fervently hope that there are no more unsolved crimes linked to him,” Drexler expressed. “However, it is imperative to ascertain the truth.”
Drexler disclosed that additional testing is currently underway, and a comprehensive presentation of all findings will be conducted upon the official closure of the case.
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