cnn.com
44-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: DNA Links Suspect to 1979 Double Homicide
On April 24, 1979, Deroshia Matthews, 26, and her son Kamal, 7, were found murdered in their Omaha home; on August 2, 2023, Abdulmalik Husain, 68, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder after a DNA match from a 2004 Colorado arrest.
- How did advancements in forensic science contribute to solving this decades-old cold case?
- The decades-long investigation highlights advancements in forensic science and the persistence of law enforcement. A DNA match from an unrelated 2004 arrest of Husain, initially dismissed due to a clerical error, enabled the 2023 charges. The case underscores the potential for solving cold cases with technological progress and renewed investigation.
- What led to the arrest of Abdulmalik Husain four decades after the murders of Deroshia Matthews and her son?
- In 1979, Deroshia Matthews and her son Kamal were found murdered in their Omaha home; Abdulmalik Husain, 68, was recently arrested and charged with their murders after a DNA match from a 2004 Colorado arrest. The case remained unsolved for decades, reopening in 2021 due to forensic advancements.
- What are the long-term implications of this case for solving other cold cases and improving investigative techniques?
- This case demonstrates the lasting impact of unsolved homicides on families and communities. While the arrest brings a measure of closure after 44 years, the lack of identified living relatives and unclear motive leaves lingering questions. Future forensic advancements might offer even more clarity in such cases.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the successful apprehension of the suspect after a long investigation, highlighting the police work and forensic advancements. The headline focuses on the arrest and the decades-long investigation, which could overshadow other aspects of the story, such as the victims and their families. The article starts by stating the arrest and then proceeds to detail the crime, the investigation and the suspect's background. This could frame the story more around the successful solving of the crime than the details of the victims' lives and suffering.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual, using terms like "long suspected," "charged with," and "person of interest." While words like "heinous" describe the crime, this is a justifiable assessment given the nature of the case. There is no overtly loaded or biased language used.
Bias by Omission
The article omits potential motives for the crime, the specifics of the forensic advancements that led to the re-examination of evidence in 2021, and details about the initial 2004 arrest and subsequent dismissal of charges. The lack of information about the victims' relatives beyond the statement that investigators could not locate any could be considered an omission. While space constraints likely play a role, these omissions limit a comprehensive understanding of the case.
Sustainable Development Goals
The arrest and charging of a suspect in a four-decade-old cold case demonstrates the pursuit of justice and accountability, aligning with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The resolution of this case, even after many years, reinforces the importance of persistent investigation and the pursuit of justice.