DNA Evidence Leads to 1980 Murder Arrest

After 44 years, DNA evidence from a discarded cigarette has led to the arrest of Kenneth Kundert, 65, for the 1980 murder of Dorothy Marie Silzel in Kent, Washington. Silzel was last seen on February 23, 1980, after leaving her job at a pizzeria, and her body was discovered three days later, showing signs of asphyxiation and sexual assault. Investigators collected DNA evidence at the crime scene but only recently utilized advancements in forensic genetic genealogy to narrow down suspects. Kundert, who had connections to the Seattle area and was under investigation for assault in Arkansas, was identified through familial DNA comparisons. Despite initially declining to provide a sample, Kundert inadvertently provided a usable DNA sample from a cigarette he discarded. He is currently held on a $3 million bail and faces first-degree murder charges.