Man Identified as Suspect in Cold Case Commits Suicide After DNA Sample Taken
The recent suicide of Albert Lauro Jr., a man identified as a new suspect in a decades-old murder and sexual assault case, has brought new attention to a cold case in Hawaii. Lauro took his own life after police collected a DNA sample from him, matching it to evidence from the crime scene. DNA taken from Dana Ireland’s body in 1991 was a match to Lauro, but police did not confirm that he killed himself.
This development came after the release of Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, who had been imprisoned for over 20 years for the crime. Schweitzer was released based on new evidence that didn’t match his DNA to that found at the scene of the crime. Dana Ireland’s body was found on Christmas Eve in 1991 on Hawaii’s Big Island, a case that led to the incarceration of multiple men over the years.
Authorities had been close to apprehending Lauro, obtaining a discarded fork with his DNA. However, after police went to his home to collect a sample in person, he committed suicide. Lauro had not been on law enforcement’s radar until recently.
Innocence Project lawyers have criticized the police for failing to prevent Lauro’s death, demanding a federal investigation into the matter. Lauro’s suicide means the truth about Ireland’s murder may remain unknown, despite the advances in DNA technology that pointed to him as a suspect.
While Schweitzer’s legal team continues to seek acknowledgment of his innocence and possible compensation, the case of Dana Ireland’s murder remains a tragic mystery with new developments that raise questions about the handling of the investigation.
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