Police Link Illinois Killer To Death Of Waukesha County Woman

LISLE, IL — Authorities in Illinois say DNA evidence has helped authorities link a suspected serial killer to several cold cases, including one involving the suspicious death of a 28-year-old Waukesha County woman.

Authorities in DuPage County say that suspected killer Bruce Lindahl, who died in 1981, played a role in the death of Debra Colliander, a Wisconsin native who worked for Copley Hospital and had accused Lindahl of rape and kidnapping. Lindahl was charged with accosting Colliander at Aurora's Northgate Shopping Center in June 1980 and forcing her into his apartment, according to a 1981 Chicago Tribune article.

She was set to testify against him when she vanished after leaving her job on Oct. 7, 1980. Her body was found in a shallow grave in Oswego Township in 1982, after Lindahl was already dead.

A friend of Lindahl's later told investigators that Lindahl had offered him $2,000, a handgun, whiskey and pills to get rid of Colliander, Berlin said Tuesday. The friend did not report Lindahl's offer to authorities before Colliander's death.

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Likely Serial Killer Identified In 1976 Murder Of Pamela Maurer

In this story, Patch's Shannon Antinori writes about how investigative genetic genealogy has led police in Illinois to a major breakthrough in multiple cold cases - including the one related to Debra Colliander.

Lindahl's Death

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said Lindahl was found dead in 1981 of accidentally self-inflicted wounds after he cut his femoral artery while fatally stabbing Naperville resident Charles Huber Jr., 18, who was a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School.
Lindahl's body was found next to Huber's, and police determined that he died after accidentally wounding himself.

Police Solve Cold Case After 44 Years

The biggest break came this week. It had been exactly 44 years since 16-year-old Pamela Maurer was found sexually assaulted and murdered near the intersection of College Road and Maple Avenue in Lisle.

Authorities announced Monday that police used investigative genetic genealogy to identify the Lindahl as her killer.

Berlin said this marks the first case in Illinois in which investigative genetic genealogy was used to solve a murder.

Authorities said Maurer was reported missing on Jan. 12, 1976, after leaving a friend's house. Her body was later found on the side of the road by a passing driver, who initially spotted her purse.

Maurer's case was reopened in 1993 after police received new information, but no new charges were filed in the aftermath.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Maurer was among six women who were found slain between 1972 and 1976. After Maurer was killed, former Lisle Police Chief M.J. Wurth said repeatedly that he thought the case would eventually be solved.

Ongoing Investigations

Police are investigating other disappearances and killings that may be linked to Lindahl when he lived in Downers Grove, Lisle and Woodridge, Lisle Police Department Detective Chris Loudon said. Loudon added that he believes Lindahl was a serial killer.

According to archived police records, Loudon said, Lindahl's police record shows rape charges but no convictions. "We're aware of a couple other police reports," Loudon added.

Of the news that Maurer's killer had been identified, Loudon said, "I was glad for Pam. I was glad for Pam's family. I was glad for every victim of Bruce Lindahl's."

Anyone with information about Bruce Lindahl or who may have been a victim is urged to call the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office at 630-407-8107 or call Lisle Police Department at 630-271-4252.

Original Reporting By Shannon Antinori, Patch Staff