1964 Albany Homicide Solved by DNA
Authorities say advances in DNA technology solved the 1964 murder of Catherine Blackburn in her Albany home after preserved physical evidence produced a match to Joseph Nowakowski; investigators exhumed Nowakowski’s body and received cooperation from his relatives to confirm the identification. Police said there was no indication Blackburn and Nowakowski knew each other, noted Nowakowski’s later criminal history (including a 1973 attack and multiple burglaries), and reported that Blackburn’s niece Sandy Carmichael, now 81 and who discovered the body in 1964, publicly thanked investigators as Chief Brendan Cox stressed “there’s no such thing as a cold case.”
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Crime
📌 Key Facts
- More than 60 years after Catherine Blackburn was murdered in her Albany, N.Y., home in 1964, police identified Joseph Nowakowski as the killer through DNA evidence.
- Commander Melissa Morey said all physical evidence from the 1964 crime scene had been preserved and remained intact, enabling a DNA match.
- Investigators exhumed Nowakowski’s body and, with cooperation from his relatives, confirmed the DNA identification.
- Police said there is no indication Blackburn and Nowakowski knew each other.
- Nowakowski’s criminal history includes a 1973 attack on an elderly woman in Schenectady and multiple burglaries.
- At a press conference, Chief Brendan Cox emphasized advances in DNA technology — saying “There’s no such thing as a cold case” — and Blackburn’s niece, Sandy Carmichael (now 81), who discovered her aunt in 1964, publicly thanked investigators.
📰 Sources (2)
Killer identified over 60 years after woman murdered in her Albany, N.Y., home
New information:
- Commander Melissa Morey said all physical evidence from the 1964 crime scene was preserved and intact, enabling a DNA match.
- Investigators exhumed Joseph Nowakowski’s body and received cooperation from his relatives to confirm the DNA identification.
- Police said there is no indication Catherine Blackburn and Nowakowski knew each other.
- Details of Nowakowski’s criminal history were provided, including a 1973 attack on an elderly woman in Schenectady and multiple burglaries.
- Victim’s niece Sandy Carmichael (now 81) described discovering her aunt in 1964 and publicly thanked investigators at the press conference.
- Chief Brendan Cox emphasized advances in DNA technology and stated, “There’s no such thing as a cold case.”