Marilyn Decker Cold Case Solved: Decades of Investigation and DNA Breakthrough

Discovery of Marilyn Decker's Body

• 💔 In 1987, Marilyn Decker's mutilated body was found floating in a Davie, Florida canal, wrapped in a pink plastic bag.
• 🔍 The initial investigation revealed significant trauma, including lacerations to the vaginal area and head wounds, indicating homicide.
• 📅 The victim was identified through fingerprints as Marilyn Decker, a 28-year-old woman with a history of drug use and sex work.

Early Investigation and Suspects

• 🕵️‍♀️ Detectives faced challenges due to the transient nature of Marilyn's associates and the lack of a fixed address.
• 🛍️ Physical evidence, including a distinctive pink plastic bag and an orange towel, was analyzed but yielded no immediate leads.
• 👤 Several individuals, including a neighbor and a former boyfriend named Richard P, were investigated but lacked sufficient evidence for charges.

The Breakthrough: Genetic Genealogy

• 🧬 In 2021, the case was reopened, and rootless hairs found on Marilyn's t-shirt and towel were sent for advanced DNA testing.
• 🔬 Estra Forensics generated autosomal DNA profiles, which were uploaded to GEDmatch for genealogical analysis.
• 🗺️ Parabon genealogist CeCe Moore identified potential matches, leading to the identification of Donald Raphael Lawless as the prime suspect.

Identifying the Killer: Donald Lawless

• 👨‍🦳 Donald Lawless, born in 1925, had an extensive criminal history dating back to the 1940s, including auto theft, burglary, and robbery.
• 📍 Lawless had a Florida driver's license with an address in Davie, close to where Marilyn worked, and had prior arrests for prostitution in the same area.
• ⚖️ Although Lawless died in 1995, DNA evidence from his nephew, BB, confirmed that Donald Lawless's DNA matched the hairs found on Marilyn.

Case Resolution and Legacy

• ✅ Investigators believe Lawless, a serial offender, was responsible for Marilyn's murder and potentially others, given his violent history and modus operandi.
• 🏛️ The case's resolution highlighted the importance of cold case funding, leading to the proposed Decker-Bachmann Act in Florida, aimed at dedicating resources to unsolved homicides.
• 😔 Marilyn's family expressed both relief at the resolution and frustration that Lawless did not face justice in his lifetime, emphasizing the enduring pain of unsolved crimes.