TLDR;
The video tells the story of Jane Britain, a Harvard student murdered in 1969, and how a group of amateur sleuths helped solve the case nearly 50 years later. Despite initial investigations, the case went cold due to lack of evidence and technological limitations. A group of determined citizens reopened the case, leading to a DNA match with Michael Sumpter, a serial offender who had already passed away.
- Jane Britain, a bright Harvard student, was murdered in her apartment in 1969.
- Initial investigations were hampered by a lack of evidence and limited forensic technology.
- A group of amateur sleuths persistently pushed for the case to be reopened.
- DNA evidence eventually linked the murder to Michael Sumpter, a deceased serial offender.
- The case was officially solved in 2018, nearly 50 years after the murder.
The Life and Death of Jane Britain [0:30]
Jane Britain was born in 1945 in Boston. She was a bright and promising student with a keen interest in history and anthropology. She excelled academically, enjoyed painting and horseback riding, and was accepted into Harvard's anthropology graduate program. In 1969, she was preparing for her final exams and looking forward to her career.
Discovery of the Crime Scene [1:36]
On January 7, 1969, Jane didn't show up for her final exams. Her boyfriend, James, found her apartment door unlocked and Jane dead in her bedroom. She had been struck in the head and sexually assaulted. The police were called, and an investigation began.
Initial Investigation and Theories [3:37]
Detectives found no signs of robbery and no immediate leads. Fingerprints were found but couldn't be matched. Theories included the killer entering through a faulty door or fire escape. A witness reported seeing a man running from the building. A reddish powder found at the scene led to a theory involving someone with knowledge of ancient burial rituals, possibly another anthropology student.
The Boston Strangler and Unsafe Living Conditions [8:20]
Another theory suggested the Boston Strangler, but he was already in a psychiatric facility. Newspapers criticized Harvard for the unsafe living conditions in the building, including faulty locks and windows. Police conducted polygraph tests and monitored Jane's funeral, but no leads emerged.
The Murder of Ada Ben and the Cold Case [10:03]
A month after Jane's murder, Ada Ben was found dead in similar circumstances. Despite the similarities, police didn't connect the cases. Jane's case went cold, and subsequent investigations and DNA analysis attempts in the 80s and 2000s yielded no results.
The Amateur Sleuths [12:06]
A group of amateur sleuths, including a retired reporter, a Harvard journalist, and a forum moderator, took an interest in the case. They fought for access to police records, facing numerous rejections and lawsuits. Their persistence eventually led to the case being reopened in 2017.
DNA Breakthrough and Identification of Michael Sumpter [13:49]
In 2017, advanced DNA analysis yielded a partial match to Michael Sumpter, a man with a history of sexual assault. Sumpter matched the description of the man seen running from Jane's building and lived nearby. However, Sumpter had died in 2001, making a direct DNA sample impossible.
Solving the Case After Decades [15:08]
Detectives obtained a DNA sample from Sumpter's brother, which provided a strong enough match to identify Sumpter as the likely killer. In 2018, police announced the case was officially solved. They believed Sumpter followed Jane home, entered through the fire escape, and attacked her. The reddish powder was likely paint pigment. While Sumpter couldn't be definitively linked to Ada Ben's murder due to lack of DNA evidence, the similarities suggested his involvement.