With constantly emerging new technology, many mystery cases of the past are finally being seen in a new light. One such case was with the case of Roseann Sturtz. The NY Post shares that Sturtz was "strangled after meeting her assailant at a bar on Aug. 24, 1975." Despite investigator's best efforts, the case remained a mystery....until now. Learn how a cassette tape solved a murder.
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How A Cassette Tape Solved A Murder Mystery
In 1981, detectives discovered a cassette tape in which Charles William Davis Jr. was asked about the murder. Davis was incarcerated at Jessup Correctional Institute at the time and was told that if he spoke on the murder, he would not face charges in the case.
However, after detectives showed Davis a photo of Sturtz, form years before her murder, he claimed he did not recognize here. Therefore, the case remained a mystery. However, detectives now are reviewing that cassette tape, and something came to them.
Perhaps Davis didn't recognize the photo of Strurtz because it was a much younger photo of her. Howard County police Cpl. Wade Zufall wanted another word with Davis on the topic of this murder, and this time he was prepared.
Zufall brought with him another photo of Sturtz. This one was a mugshot of her, taken only about a month before her murder. In that conversation, Davis recognized her.
A Family Finally Gets Closure
The footage from the interview shows the moment that Davis recognizes the photo of Sturtz. When the new photo is presented to him he begins to nod his head when asked if he recognzies her. "Mhmmmm," he responds. Upon further looking at the photo, he even identifies specific features about the young woman.
"She still had the scar," he said pointing to a particular point on the photo. Although Davis confessed to the fact that Sturtz was one of his victims he cannot be charged with this case. That is because he was granted full immunity from prosecution in this case back in 1981, then again it was reaffirmed in 2024. However, he is currently facing three life sentences for other crimes that he committed.
The NY Post shared Davis's reasoning for coming clean about the murder. Zufall stated, " His main reason why he wanted to talk to me....was he wanted to give closure to the family." While they will never have their sweet girl back at least they finally have answers to their questions. And to think, all of this came from detectives reexamining some evidence. Who would have thought that an old cassette tape would help solve a murder.
