Cold Case Breakthrough: Randallstown Man Charged With Killing Estranged Wife

RANDALLSTOWN, MD — Police on Friday accused a Baltimore County man of killing his estranged wife nearly 31 years ago.

Officers said they on Thursday charged Randallstown resident Donald Wesley Lester, now 69, in the 1994 death of Linda Lester, a 31-year-old 911 dispatcher for Baltimore County.

Authorities said the couple was going through a divorce and living in separate homes at the time.

Police said the victim was last seen alive on Oct. 11, 1994, when she was leaving work and heading to the suspect's house to pick up her 2-year-old child.

The victim's sister reported her missing the next day, officers said.

Authorities said the victim's body was found off Interstate 70 days later.

Detectives questioned Donald Lester after the disappearance, but they said forensic evidence collected from the victim provided enough evidence to file charges three decades later.

“We commend the Baltimore County Police Department’s Cold Case Squad for their vigilant and dedicated work to close this case and achieve justice for Linda Lester and her family,” Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said in a press release. “As a member of our 911 team, Linda worked tirelessly to make our county a safer place where every call for help was answered swiftly and with compassion. Anyone who breaks the law in Baltimore County will be held accountable, and we’re grateful to our police department for their tireless work on this case.”

Online court records show that the suspect was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Judge Kimberly M. Davis held him without bond on Friday, the file says.

Donald Lester's attorney, Michael Tomko, did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment. We will update this article if he replies.

This was the second straight week that Baltimore County identified a cold case suspect after a forensic development. Patch's coverage of the other case is available here.

See Also: Cold Case Suspect Identified 44 Years After Fatal Shooting In Gwynn Oak: Police