SOLVED: Timothy Krajcir confesses to five local murders

In 1982, then-Sgt. John Brown told a group of worried Cape Girardeau residents that he was sure the police department would find the killer of five local women.

And they have - 25 years later.

On Dec. 10, the Cape Girardeau Police Department and Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced charges being filed in the 1977 and 1982 deaths of Mary and Brenda Parsh, Sheila Cole, Margie Call and Mildred Wallace.

In this special semissourian.com project, read about the man who confessed to the five deaths, follow the story as it unfolded 30 years ago through newspaper clippings and file photographs, learn about the evidence trail that led police to the suspect after so many decades, and read the reminisces of those who worked the crimes when they occurred.

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STORIES

Timothy Krajcir a suspect in two more '70s murders

Newer DNA test helps solve killings

Killer studied police method

Families find peace after confessions

When one town feared one man

Illinois inmate Timothy Krajcir confesses to 5 unsolved Cape murders

Confessed killer has long history of crime, sexual deviancy

Police, others reflect on fear five murders invoked in Cape

Looking back: Former police chiefs Henry Gerecke and Ray Johnson reflect on unsolved crimes

Filing of charges against Krajcir announced in press conference

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DOCUMENTS

Letter to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich from Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt requesting expedited extradition for Krajcir (30 KB PDF, posted Dec. 17)

Complaint and Request for a Warrant in a Felony Case (1 MB PDF)

Probable Cause Statement (2 MB PDF)

Warrant for Arrest (1 MB PDF)

1977 profile of murder suspect describes introvert, obsessive compulsive

VIDEO

Watch excerpts from the news conference

Interview with Detective Jim Smith of the Cape Girardeau Police Department

PHOTOS

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ABOUT KRAJCIR:

Read a letter written about Krajcir's 1983 psychiatric evaluation (320K PDF)

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ABOUT THE CASES

~Read through newspaper clippings that document the investigations into the five unsolved murders.

<div style="float:right;padding:5px;"> Brenda Parsh<div style="float:right;padding:5px;"> Mary Parsh

THE PARSHES

58-year-old Mary Parsh and her 27-year-old daughter Brenda were killed with a .38 caliber gun on Aug. 12, 1977, at the Parsh home on Koch Street in Cape Girardeau.

~View news clippings for Mary and Brenda Parsh (5 MB PDF document)

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<div style="float:right;padding:5px;width:150px;">Sheila Cole

SHEILA COLE

Southeast Missouri State University student Sheila Cole's body was found Nov. 17, 1977, at a roadside rest area near McClure, Ill. Her car was discovered in the parking lot of a WalMart in Cape Girardeau.

~View news clippings for Sheila Cole (4 MB PDF document)

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<div style="float:right;padding:5px;width:150px;">Margie Call

MARGIE CALL

57-year-old Margie Louise Call was found strangled in her home on Brink Street on Jan. 27, 1982.

~View news clippings for Margie Call (2 MB PDF document)

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<div style="float:right;padding:5px;width:150px;">Mildred Wallace

MILDRED WALLACE

65-year-old Mildred Wallace was killed with a .38 caliber gun in her home on William Street on June 20, 1982.

~View news clippings for Mildred Wallace (4 MB PDF document)