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DNA Links Deceased Suspect to 1990s Cold Case Murders

4/11/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

New Jersey authorities identified Francis T. Schooley as the suspect in the 1993 murder of Marebeth Welsh and the 1994 murder of Jennifer Persia.
DNA testing linked Schooley, who died by suicide in 2000, to both cases.
Schooley had connections to both women, including ties to Persia’s family.
Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to charge him if he were alive and emphasize investigators' commitment to solving the cold cases.

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Story summary

New Jersey authorities identified Francis T. Schooley as the suspect in the 1993 murder of Marebeth Welsh and the 1994 murder of Jennifer Persia.
DNA testing linked Schooley, who died by suicide in 2000, to both cases.
Schooley had connections to both women, including ties to Persia’s family.
Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to charge him if he were alive and emphasize investigators' commitment to solving the cold cases.