The chance for revenge appeared years later thanks to science and the help of caring people (6 photos)

Nancy Ludwig wasn't supposed to work that day. But literally for a few hours before the flight, she received a call and was asked to change suddenly sick colleague. And February 17, 1991 was the last day of her life.





41-year-old pretty woman worked as a flight attendant in Northwest Airlines was a happy wife and mother. By agreeing to replacement, Nancy after the flight went to the nearest hotel to the airport, to get a good night's sleep before the flight back. The next day the maid at the Hilton Airport Inn opened the room without being able to get through. Nancy's bloody, naked body was found on the floor, tied with ropes.

Immediately arrived doctors only shrugged and pronounced death. Nancy's husband, Art, was called in for identification.



Nancy

The examination showed that the woman fought hard for life: there were numerous cuts on the palms and arms. But the perpetrator was stronger. Before her death, Nancy was abused. The killer took the things women, jewelry, documents. And to confuse the investigation, rubbed the body rag. But he left it in the bathroom, and blood stains remained on the fabric and samples of biological fluids.

The hotel, a huge number of guests, replacing each other. It seems impossible to find the criminal in this chaos. But friend- partner Nancy, remembered that when they were on the bus, on the stewardess was clearly noticed by one of the passengers. Sit closer and All the way he did not take his eyes off the woman. At the same time, the guy was strange and made a repulsive impression.



Identikit

From the words of a colleague, they made a sketch. It turned out that similar the man left the hotel at night. And he looked fussy and nervous. But failed to find it. And the partner's lead turned out to be empty. The man just liked Nancy, and he was staring at a pretty woman, without hiding your interest.

The detectives worked, but very slowly. Technologies of genetic research at that time was just beginning to emerge. And the polls interrogation and verification of the testimony of people who had this or that relation to hotel, took a colossal amount of time. The case has stalled and gradually faded away.



Nancy with her husband

On the fifth anniversary of his wife's death, Art and his daughters came to hotel to hold an all-night vigil in memory of a loved one. To the widower others who were not indifferent also joined in. The family prayed for one thing: that advancing technology has helped in finding the killer of their loved one.

And prayers were heard. Soon Art got a call from a man who introduced himself as the son of Margaret Eby. A few years before the tragedy with Nancy similarly killed his mother. 55 year old woman raped tied up, and the cuts on the body were very similar to those left by Nancy. It was a thread.



Margaret and Nancy

Biological traces also remained at the crime scene. After reading an article about Nancy in the newspaper, the son of the first victim came to the conclusion that It could be a serial number. In 2001, evidence in both cases found its way to new expertise. The samples matched exactly. Found in the database fingerprint matching. It belonged to Jeffrey Wayne Gorton, 39 white man. There were unpleasant moments in his biography: in youth, he chased women and, threatening with a knife, forced them to take off underwear. Which he took as trophies. Stole women's laundromat panties. Then, it seems, he settled down, got married and calmed down. But in 1986 he went to jail for theft (so Geoffrey's prints ended up in the database) and came out a couple of years later. The wife was divorced by then. with him, took the child and left.

The man remarried. But despite the birth of two children, and the new marriage broke up rather quickly. To avoid mistakes, the police decided to verify the DNA match. Been watching for a while a man. And they took a glass of coffee and napkins from the pizzeria where he ate while on holiday with the kids.



Gorton

The results again matched the samples from both women's cases. Gorton's house was searched. The finds surprised even seasoned policemen: about 800 items of women's wardrobe. underwear, to to which tags were attached with the owner's data, date and the circumstances under which it was receivedabout.

During interrogation, Jeffrey categorically refused to plead guilty. AT In 2002, under the weight of irrefutable evidence, he was found guilty of death of Nancy Ludwig. The investigators did not receive a confession, but it was assumed that he ambushed the victim on the stairs. And when she opened door to the room, pushed inside, threatening with a knife.

Many participants in the meeting noted that during the proceedings the accused followed not so much the process, but devoured with his eyes one from the jury. The woman looked very much like the late Nancy. In murder Margaret Aby Deffrey admitted because he did not want to participate in court sessions.

Gorton received a life sentence without the right to parole. He does not threaten is. But both the relatives of the victims and the police do not rule out that proven cases are just a drop in the ocean. Most likely, there were victims more order. But if this is so, then this cynical, calm and a confident man will take this secret with him to his grave.