CSI Brings In a Cold Case
Here’s a story of justice delayed but not forever… And the hint of a solution to a serial killer…
R News
A Florida man is behind bars charged with murdering a 7-year-old Rochester girl in what the Rochester Police Department calls the oldest cold case it’s ever cracked.
Florida authorities and a U.S. Marshal arrested James Pressler in Big Pine Key, Florida Tuesday. The 64-year-old is charged with intentional murder in the death of Michelle McMurray. She was a seven-year-old girl whose body was found outside her Jay Street home in April, 1976. Police say she’d been raped and strangled.
“It’s not everyday that you make this type of arrest after 30-some years,” said David Moore, Rochester Police Chief.
“We’re always happy to help other agencies when it comes to this sort of case,” said PIO Becky Herrin, Monroe Co. Florida Sheriff’s Office. “Obviously this sounds like it’s a particularly heinous case and to solve it after 31 years is amazing.”
Police say Pressler had been living in Florida for the last two decades. Before that, he had lived in Rochester in the same apartment complex where Michelle McMurray had lived.
Investigators say Pressler was always a person of interest in her death, but never arrested because no evidence linked him to the girl’s death.
“He was a person that they took him as far as he could go and without the proof at that time, the technology’s changed that changed things around,” said Lynde Johnston, Rochester Police Dept.
Pressler did not have a criminal record until his arrest. His DNA evidence was recovered as part of the investigation into Michelle McMurray’s killing. Florida authorities tell us DNA from one of Pressler’s cigarettes linked him to the crime. Authorities there sent the evidence up here to Monroe County to be tested in the crime lab for a match.
“It is the oldest case that we’ve worked on in our lab and achieved results so it’s a great feeling,” said Nancy Scibetta, DNA technical manager.
Pressler is being held in a correctional facility in Florida. He fought extradition in court Wednesday. The Monroe County District Attorney’s office must secure a signed warrant from the governor before Pressler can travel to Rochester to face charges.
“The legal process has started and this case will end with justice,” said Mike Green, Monroe County D.A.
Police say they’re gratified to finally be able to offer McMurray’s family a chance for peace.
“As hopeless as it seems sometimes on these old cases we don’t forget them. We constantly, constantly are reviewing them,” Lynde said.
The family of Michelle McMurray could not be reached. Her gravesite at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester appears to be well kept.
Michelle would have turned 39 this month.
Democrat & Chronicle
At the time Michelle was killed, there was community speculation that her death might be connected with the slayings of three girls from 1971 to 1973 that became known as the double initial killing because the first and last names of all three girls — Carmen Colon, Wanda Walkowicz and Michelle Maenza — had the same initials.
Police at that time, however, discounted any possible link. Green also said no evidence has been filed claiming Pressler was responsible for those slayings.
“At this point, to try to link this to that would be nothing but wild speculation,” Green said.
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