DNA evidence links 1987 Colorado murder to notorious serial killer

On December 3, authorities revealed that DNA evidence has connected a nearly 40-year-old murder in Colorado to a notorious serial killer. Rhonda Marie Fisher, 30, was discovered dead on April 1, 1987, along a rural highway about 35 miles south of Denver. Investigators reported that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office highlighted the rarity of obtaining usable DNA from nearly four-decade-old paper bags, emphasizing the importance of careful evidence preservation and periodic forensic reviews. DNA recovered from these bags has been identified as belonging to Vincent Darrell Groves, a known prolific serial killer.

The investigation into Fisher's death was reopened earlier this year. In October, forensic experts confirmed a match between DNA found on Fisher's hands and DNA from three homicides Groves committed in 1979. Groves, who died in Colorado custody in 1999, is linked to at least 12 murders in the Denver area, along with attempted murder and sexual assault.

Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly stated that the resolution of Fisher's case demonstrates the persistent dedication of investigators, forensic teams, and cold case specialists who work tirelessly to bring closure to families after decades of uncertainty.

Author: Grace Ellison