A suspect has been identified in the cold-case killing of a 25-year-old University of Texas nursing student more than 40 years ago, according to the Austin Police Department.
Deck Brewer Jr., 78, was charged with Susan Leigh Wolfe’s murder on Wednesday after evidence related to her sexual assault was tested and identified him as a DNA match, the department said in a news release Friday. Brewer is already incarcerated in Massachusetts on unrelated charges.
Wolfe was walking to a friend’s house on the night of Jan. 9, 1980, when, according to a witness, a 1970 Dodge Polara stopped and the driver exited, placing her into a “bear hug” with a coat over her head and forcing her into the car, police said. The witness also saw the passenger door of the car open but “did not see what the passenger did during the abduction.” Police are still searching for this individual.
Wolfe was found the next morning in an alley in Austin. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death a homicide. There was also evidence that she had been strangled and sexually assaulted, according to police.
Over the years, the investigation produced more than 40 persons of interest, leading to six suspects who were interviewed. A big break in the case came in April 2023, when detectives submitted evidence related to Wolfe’s sexual assault. Almost a year later, the results ruled out the six suspects and identified Brewer as a possible match.
Last month, Austin police detectives obtained a DNA sample from Brewer and interviewed him in Massachusetts.
“During that conversation, Brewer said he had been in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, around the time of the murder,” police said. “Brewer invoked his right to counsel after he was told his DNA was found at the scene of a homicide.”
Brewer’s DNA sample was tested and it was found that he “cannot be excluded as the contributor of the partial major component in this DNA profile,” an excerpt from the report read.
“The probability of selecting an unrelated person at random who could be the contributor of the partial major component in this DNA profile is approximately 1 in 550.5 quintillion. One quintillion is followed by 18 zeros,” the report said.
It is not clear at this time if Brewer has legal representation.
The investigation into Wolfe’s murder is still ongoing, and police are continuing to search for the person who was in the passenger seat on the day she was forced into a car.
The Austin Police Department is asking anyone with information related to the case to reach out to its cold case unit at 512-974-5250. An anonymous tip may also be submitted through austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.