Sylvia Quayle, a 34-year-old woman, resided in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. Described as compassionate and generous by her loved ones, she enjoyed aiding others and forming new friendships. Her strong bond with her father was evident, as he frequently visited her on Ogden Street.
Tragedy struck on August 4, 1981, when Sylvia’s father made a horrifying discovery: his daughter’s lifeless, unclothed body lay in a pool of blood within her bedroom. The extent of the brutality was shocking; she had endured stabbing, shooting, and sexual assault. The perpetrator had forcibly entered through a window and attacked her while she slept. The crime scene’s gruesome nature even rattled seasoned investigators.
The passage of decades yielded no resolution. The authorities had neither witnesses nor suspects, and clues remained elusive. Although evidence was collected, including a rug with foreign substances, the technology of the time couldn’t unveil the killer’s DNA. The case grew cold, leaving Sylvia’s family and friends without closure.
A pivotal moment emerged in 2020. A private DNA analysis lab received the rug, managing to extract a DNA profile from the unknown material. Uploading this profile to a public genealogy database led to a match with a relative of David Dwayne Anderson, a 62-year-old Nebraska resident.
With a warrant, the police obtained Anderson’s discarded vanilla Coca-Cola can for DNA comparison. A match with the rug’s DNA profile confirmed his involvement. Anderson faced arrest, charged with the first-degree murder and sexual assault of Sylvia Quayle.
Anderson’s criminal history included burglary and theft across multiple states, yet he had evaded detection. Unbeknownst to him, his DNA betrayed his actions. Pleading not guilty, he underwent trial in June 2021.
The trial spanned two weeks and incorporated expert testimonies, investigative accounts, and statements from Sylvia’s family. Central to the prosecution’s case was the DNA evidence, unequivocally linking Anderson to the crime. In contrast, the defense questioned the DNA analysis’s reliability, proposing the possibility of an alternate perpetrator.
However, the jury remained unconvinced by the defense’s arguments. Deliberating for under four hours, they found Anderson guilty on both counts. Exactly four decades after Sylvia’s tragic demise, on August 4, 2021, Anderson received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Sylvia’s family and friends expressed relief and gratitude for the long-awaited justice. With her assailant identified, they hoped Sylvia could finally find peace. Appreciation was extended to the persistent and dedicated police and lab personnel who cracked the case.
The Sylvia Quayle case highlights how advancements in DNA technology can solve long-standing mysteries that confounded investigators. Additionally, it underscores the potency of public genealogy databases in identifying suspects through familial DNA. A soda can played an instrumental role in solving a 40-year-old enigma and bringing a murderer to account.