– William Charles Kernan Jr. Colorado Babysitter Murder Suspect
– William Charles Kernan Jr. Colorado Babysitter Murder Case.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
CSPD
William Charles Kernan young and old and Maria Honzell.
Colorado Springs police suspect that William Charles Kernan Jr., a local college student, is the individual responsible for the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old college student Maria Loraine Honzell in 1977.
On February 7, 1977, at around 11:21 p.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department received a call reporting a possible suicide in the 5400 block of North Nevada Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless body of 14-year-old Maria Loraine Honzell with multiple stab wounds to her chest and neck. The victim, dressed in a blue jumpsuit, was later identified as Maria Loraine Honzell,” as stated in a May 8 press release by the Colorado Springs Police Department source.
Through genetic genealogy DNA analysis, authorities identified a person of interest named William Charles Kernan, Jr., also known as Bill Kernan. “Mr. Kernan passed away in 2010. Confirmation DNA collection was not possible as the suspect was cremated with no living biological relatives,” the release confirms.
“Mr. Kernan was a student at a local college and acquainted with the individual Maria Honzell was babysitting for on the night of her murder. Further investigation revealed Mr. Kernan had visited the apartment complex on multiple occasions,” the release adds.
CSPD Detectives sought the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office to review the case based on the Genetic Genealogy findings of Mr. Kernan. Following the review, the District Attorney’s Office concluded that William C. Kernan, Jr. is the individual responsible for Maria Honzell’s murder. Given that William C. Kernan Jr. passed away in 2010, the case of Maria Honzell’s murder will be closed as Exceptionally Cleared / Death of Offender.
Maria Loraine Honzell Was Babysitting for 2 Children When She Was Fatally Attacked
CSPDMaria Honzell.
The investigation revealed that Maria Honzell was babysitting for a female neighbor within the same apartment complex,” the release mentioned.
“The neighbor arrived home around 11:20 p.m. and discovered Maria Honzell deceased in the master bedroom. The neighbor’s two children, aged six and eight, were present during the incident but were unharmed. The children were asleep in bed when the neighbor returned and found Maria Honzell,” the release further detailed.
The El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Maria Honzell and determined that she had sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest and a significant stab wound to the neck. The autopsy confirmed that Maria Honzell’s death was a homicide,” the release states.
Advancements in DNA Technology Led to Identification of Male DNA Profile on Maria Honzell’s Clothing, Police Say
CSPDWilliam Kernan.
The Colorado Springs Police Department conducted an extensive investigation, including interviews, reports, and evidence collection. Despite the lack of a suspect at that time, CSPD continued to pursue leads and other investigative strategies,” the release explained.
In 2019, CSPD enlisted the help of Parabon NanoLabs to conduct genetic genealogy DNA analysis using public commercial DNA databases. The blood found on the blue jumpsuit was sent for Genetic Genealogy (GG) research through Parabon,” the release mentions.
The DNA Profile Was Cross-Referenced with Public Genetic Genealogy Databases & Led to the Identification of William Charles Kernan Jr., Police Confirm
CSPDWilliam Kernan.
Genetic Genealogy “utilizes advanced DNA testing along with innovative genetic analysis, sophisticated identification techniques, and traditional genealogical methods to establish the relationship between an individual and their ancestors. In forensic investigations, it is employed to generate informative leads regarding the possible identity of an unknown victim or offender,” the release explains.
It further elaborates:
In the investigation of Maria Honzell’s homicide, Parabon submitted the genetic data profile derived from the unknown crime scene DNA sample found on the jumpsuit to a public genetic genealogy database for comparison, aiming to identify individuals sharing significant amounts of DNA with the unknown subject. These genetic matches provided clues for traditional genealogy research: family trees of the matches were traced back to potential common ancestors using online genealogy databases, newspaper archives, public family trees, obituaries, and other public records, followed by descendance research to determine the possible identities of the unknown subject.
The Colorado Springs Police Department extends gratitude to the various units and agencies that provided extensive investigative assistance in this case over the years, including the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, The El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the Metro Crime Lab, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Parabon NanoLabs. Parabon played a vital role in identifying the suspect in this investigation,” the release acknowledges, adding, “The family and friends of Maria Honzell have awaited justice for Maria for over forty-seven years. Through years of analysis & investigation, CSPD is pleased to finally provide closure to Maria’s loved ones.”
Jessica McBride is a news reporter covering breaking news, politics and crime for Heavy. She is a former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Waukesha Freeman newspapers in Wisconsin and is a senior journalism instructor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. More about Jessica McBride
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Colorado Babysitter Murder Suspect William Charles Kernan Jr..
