"Decades-Old Colorado Cold Cases Solved Using DNA Technology"
After nearly 50 years, the cold case of Teree Becker's murder has been solved using DNA technology, identifying her killer as Thomas Martin Elliot, a career criminal who died by suicide in 1991. DNA evidence linked him to Becker's rape and murder, as well as another case in Las Vegas. Genetic genealogy was used to trace Elliot's genetic DNA, leading to his identification. Becker, described as a "free spirit," was last seen hitchhiking to see her boyfriend in 1975 before being found raped and asphyxiated in a field outside of Denver.