Illinois Charges 70-Year-Old Albert Zigler in 1993 Murder After DNA Genealogy Breakthrough
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 26
Illinois Charges 70-Year-Old Albert Zigler in 1993 Murder After DNA Genealogy Breakthrough
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 26
Albert L. "Buddy" Zigler, 70, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in the 1993 killing of Randy Gail Sperino, a 34-year-old found beaten to death in a Granite City field.
Decades-old DNA evidence and forensic genetic genealogy broke the cold case after years of retesting evidence, re-interviewing witnesses and chasing leads that failed to identify a suspect.
Court records say Zigler later told investigators he picked Sperino up in Granite City, beat her at his residence with a metal bat or steel pipe, and dumped her body in a field.
Zigler remains in custody on a violent, non-probationable charge; a judge appointed a public defender at Tuesday's initial appearance and set a detention hearing for Wednesday.
Prosecutors said the case shows how newer genealogy tools, pursued by Madison County investigators for about seven years, are helping solve killings that had remained unsolved for more than 30 years.
A relative's ancestry test solved a 1993 murder. What does this mean for the future of genetic privacy?
A 70-year-old with no criminal record is now a murder suspect. Are there other secrets hidden in his past?
After living freely for three decades, what was the motive behind this seemingly random, brutal killing?
33 Years Cold: DNA Genealogy Leads to Arrest in Randy Gail Sperino Murder
Overview
In 1993, Randy Gail Sperino's body was found in a roadside ditch near Granite City, sparking a lengthy investigation. Despite hundreds of interviews and repeated DNA analysis, traditional databases like CODIS could not identify a suspect because the killer's DNA was not in the system. Albert Lee Zigler, who had no prior criminal record and was never considered a suspect, remained undetected for decades. The case stayed unsolved until new forensic genetic genealogy technology allowed investigators to trace DNA connections through relatives, leading to Zigler's identification and charges after 33 years. This breakthrough highlights the power of evolving forensic science in solving cold cases.