The Akron Spree Murders: Unsolved Cases and a DNA Breakthrough

The Akron Spree Murders

• 💡 In 1987, four women were murdered in the Akron, Ohio area between August and December, creating a period of fear and an unsolved mystery.
• 🎯 The victims included Janice Christensen (31), Joanne Bartholomew (47), Marsha K. Pott (36), and 17-year-old Barbara Blatnik.

Initial Murders and Similarities

• 🔪 Janice Christensen was found stabbed and sexually assaulted on a jogging trail in August.
• 💔 Joanne Bartholomew was found partially clothed, also stabbed and sexually assaulted, with her credit cards missing.
• 🚗 Marsha K. Pott was found stabbed in her car, with her purse emptied, initially leading police to suspect a robbery gone wrong.
• ⚠️ Investigators noted similarities: multiple stab wounds, sexual assault (in the first two cases), and victims found in wooded areas or secluded spots.

The Fourth Victim and Emerging Suspicions

• 🕯️ Barbara Blatnik, a 17-year-old high school junior, was found strangled and possibly sexually assaulted in December.
• 🔍 Despite differences in cause of death (strangulation vs. stabbing), investigators began to believe all four murders might be connected.
• 🗣️ A 17-year-old victim of a prior sexual assault provided a detailed description of a Caucasian male, 5'5"-6'0", 150 lbs, with a sun-damaged face and graying hair.

Cold Case Breakthrough with Forensic Genealogy

• 🧬 In May 2020, James Zastawnik was arrested for the murder of Barbara Blatnik, thanks to a cold case team and forensic genealogy.
• 🔬 Samples from under Barbara's fingernails were analyzed, leading to a DNA match with Zastawnik's family.
• ❓ While Zastawnik faces charges for Barbara's murder, it remains uncertain if police can link him to the other three cases, as DNA evidence from those scenes has not yet been tested.

Unsolved Cases and Future Hope

• ⏳ The investigation into the other three murders is ongoing, with hopes that Zastawnik's DNA match will prompt further testing and potentially solve the remaining cases.
• 🌟 The podcast highlights the importance of forensic genealogy in solving old cold cases and bringing closure to victims' families.