A significant breakthrough has been achieved in a 44-year-old cold case murder investigation in Maryland, thanks to the power of genetic genealogy. The case involves the brutal murder of 31-year-old Kathryn Donohue, a secretary from Arlington, Virginia, whose body was discovered in a parking lot in Glenarden, Maryland, on March 3, 1979.
Donohue’s murder was particularly heinous, with evidence of beating, rape, and ultimately, her death. Despite a thorough investigation at the time, no suspects were identified, and the case went cold, leaving Donohue’s family without answers for decades.
However, DNA evidence was collected from Donohue’s body, which would later prove to be a crucial piece of evidence. In 2024, investigators turned to genetic genealogy, an innovative investigative tool that involves comparing unknown DNA from a crime scene to family members who have voluntarily submitted DNA samples to a database.
Through this process, investigators identified a relative of the suspect, which ultimately led them to Rodger Zodas Brown, an 82-year-old man who lived in Prince George’s County at the time of the murder. Brown was arrested at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and has been charged with first-degree murder, rape, and related charges.
According to police, Brown showed no reaction during his arrest and has not been linked to Donohue in any way. The investigation remains active, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Donohue’s family has expressed their gratitude to investigators, stating that their “relentless pursuit of the truth” has finally given them a sense of closure. Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz emphasized that this case serves as a reminder that investigators will never give up seeking the truth, no matter how much time has passed.
