42 years later: Loveland detectives use DNA technology in hopes of finding killer in unsolved murder

CHOSE THIS PLACE TO DUMP A BODY LIKE A LITTLE MIAMI RIVER THE HEADLINES OF THE PAST STILL RIPPLE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OF LOVELAND LEVELS OF SMALL COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR ONLY UNSOLVED HOMICIDE. THIS IS WHERE THE BODY OF 19 YEAR OLD UC STUDENT. SHERYL THOMPSON WAS FOUND APRIL 8. 1978 SHE HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING A FEW WEEKS EARLIER MARCH 25TH. CHERYL GOES OUT TO A CLUB DOWN IN THE CINCINNATI AREA AND IT NEVER SHOWS UP THE NEXT MORNING LOVELAND POLICE CHIEF DENNIS. SHAWN. RAY SAYS SINCE THEN THIS CASE IS FRUSTRATED GENERATIONS OF DETECTIVES HERE. IT’S SORT OF HANDED DOWN ALMOST AN IRREVERENT WAY FROM ONE INVESTIGATOR TO THE NEXT TO SEE IF THERE’S SOME WAY THAT THEY CAN YOU KNOW, MOVE IT A LITTLE BIT FORWARD OHIO BUREAU OF GATION HAS LAUNCHED A NEW SEVEN-MEMBER COLD-CASE TEAM NOT ONLY INVESTIGATORS, BUT THOSE WITH LAB EXPERTISE IN THE THOMPSON CASE. THERE IS DNA EVIDENCE INVESTIGATORS. HOPE ADVANCES CAN HELP CATCH A KILLER IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THE PERSON THEY’RE STILL ALIVE AND THE GRAND JURY THINKS THAT THERE’S ENOUGH EVIDENCE. WE WILL CERTAINLY PURSUE THAT FOR NOW ALONG THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVER AND UNDERCURRENT OF OF MYSTERY STILL FLOWS THROUGH LOVELAND. I SENSE THIS IS A MURDER CASE. IT’S NEVER CLOSED AND POLICE SAY THEY’RE STILL TAKING TIPS FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO TALK AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

It's been 42 years since a woman was found murdered in Loveland, Ohio, and detectives are still actively searching for her killer.The unsolved murder of a University of Cincinnati student in 1978 is among the first to get a new look from a team of cold case investigators just created in the Ohio Bureau of Investigation.In 1978, the Loveland Police Department began investigating the murder of Cheryl Thompson. Now, over 40 years later, police have still not found her killer.On March 24, 1978, police said Thompson left her home at 8312 Wooster Pike in Cincinnati to head to Gatsby's on Madison Road. Her brother reported her missing the next day after family and friends could not find her.Then, on April 8, 1978, Thompson's body was discovered by an Ohio Department of Natural Resources game protector on the bank of the Little Miami River in Loveland. The Hamilton County coroner ruled Thompson's death a homicide and said she died by means of strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.“Loveland is a small community. This is our only unsolved homicide,” said Loveland police chief Dennis Sean Rahe.According to Loveland police, this case remains Loveland's only active murder investigation. They said the case has been "passed to many different investigators" but stated they are still diligently working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to find her killer.Now, the Ohio BCI is forming a new seven-member cold case task force. Investigators with the unit are taking up the Thompson case. The team is made up of investigators and lab experts.Investigators are relying on a new piece of technology to help them in their investigation. They are using DNA technology to pursue evidence, which is something they did not have in 1978.Loveland investigators believe there is still a possibility they could make an arrest.“If we can identify the person and they’re still alive, and the grand jury thinks there’s enough evidence, we will certainly pursue that,” Rahe said.Anyone with information about this case can submit a tip by clicking here.

LOVELAND, Ohio —

It's been 42 years since a woman was found murdered in Loveland, Ohio, and detectives are still actively searching for her killer.

The unsolved murder of a University of Cincinnati student in 1978 is among the first to get a new look from a team of cold case investigators just created in the Ohio Bureau of Investigation.

In 1978, the Loveland Police Department began investigating the murder of Cheryl Thompson. Now, over 40 years later, police have still not found her killer.

On March 24, 1978, police said Thompson left her home at 8312 Wooster Pike in Cincinnati to head to Gatsby's on Madison Road. Her brother reported her missing the next day after family and friends could not find her.

Then, on April 8, 1978, Thompson's body was discovered by an Ohio Department of Natural Resources game protector on the bank of the Little Miami River in Loveland. The Hamilton County coroner ruled Thompson's death a homicide and said she died by means of strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.

“Loveland is a small community. This is our only unsolved homicide,” said Loveland police chief Dennis Sean Rahe.

According to Loveland police, this case remains Loveland's only active murder investigation. They said the case has been "passed to many different investigators" but stated they are still diligently working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to find her killer.

Now, the Ohio BCI is forming a new seven-member cold case task force. Investigators with the unit are taking up the Thompson case. The team is made up of investigators and lab experts.

Investigators are relying on a new piece of technology to help them in their investigation. They are using DNA technology to pursue evidence, which is something they did not have in 1978.

Loveland investigators believe there is still a possibility they could make an arrest.

“If we can identify the person and they’re still alive, and the grand jury thinks there’s enough evidence, we will certainly pursue that,” Rahe said.

Anyone with information about this case can submit a tip by clicking here.

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42 years later: Loveland detectives use DNA technology in hopes of finding killer in unsolved murder

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