A murder mystery that haunted Albany for more than six decades has finally been solved.

Albany Police announced they’ve identified Joseph Stanley Nowakowski as the man responsible for the brutal 1964 killing of Catherine Blackburn inside her home on Colonie Street.

Blackburn was struck in the back of the head and stabbed her in the neck. She was also sexually assaulted and burned on her lips and chest. She died as a result of blood loss. Blackburn’s apartment was not burglarized or damaged.

For 61 years, Blackburn’s family waited for the day they would learn who killed her.

“Sixty-one years ago, evil entered my aunt’s house and changed our lives forever,” said Sandra Carmichael, Blackburn’s niece. “We’ve prayed for this day.”

Police Chief Brendan Cox said the case has spanned generations of detectives.

“That started a 61-year process of trying to investigate a crime, determine the motivation of the suspect, and ultimately bring justice for Catherine and her family,” Cox said.

In 2018, a determined detective, Melissa Morey, opened Blackburn’s case file and teamed up with Dr. Christina Lane, who launched a forensic genealogy program at Russell Sage College. Together with the FBI, the Albany Police Department used genetic genealogy to identify Nowakowski as the likely suspect.

Joseph Stanley Nowakowski (Albany Police)

“Throughout our partnership with Dr. Lane and the students, we were introduced to the FBI’s ability to use forensic genealogy,” said Detective Melissa Morey of the Albany Police Department. “Due to the diligent efforts of our partners, we were able to identify our suspect as Joseph Nowakowski.”

“We reached out to his relatives as part of the investigation,” Morey said. “Without their help and cooperation, we would not be here today.”

Nowakowski died in 1998, but to confirm the findings, investigators needed his DNA.

Investigators were granted permission from the court to exhume his body from Albany Rural Cemetery to a DNA sample.

"We all stood around the gravesite at Albany Rural Cemetery a couple of weeks ago on a Monday morning as we exhume the body," said Lee Kindlon, Albany County District Attorney.The DNA matched evidence recovered from the 1964 crime scene — specifically, a handkerchief found under Blackburn’s body.

Police say there is no evidence that Blackburn knew Nowakowski.

“All indications from that day were that she did not know him and that they were strangers,” Cox said.

Nowakowski had a violent criminal history. In the 1970s, he was convicted of assaulting an elderly woman in Schenectady and had multiple arrests dating back to the 1950s.

He was released from prison in 1980, and lived a quiet life until his death in 1998.

In June 2021, skeletal remains were discovered along County Road 225 in Wharton County, a rural area southwest of Houston, Texas. The Wharton County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, responded to the scene and launched an investigation. The remains were determined to belong to a teenage girl, estimated to be between 14 and 17 years old and approximately 4’8” to 5’2” in height. At the time of discovery, she was wearing a “Lilo and Stitch” t-shirt and was found with a watch and several rings. To aid in identifying her, investigators commissioned a forensic artist to create a composite sketch of her likeness, which was widely distributed to the public.

Despite am exhaustive investigation, the girl could not be identified and became known as Wharton County Jane Doe (2021). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP82601.

In 2023, working with the Texas Rangers, the Wharton County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the young girl. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the Jane Doe. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team began working to on the case, providing new investigative leads to investigators.

As the investigation continued, authorities received a tip from a woman searching for a missing relative. She voluntarily provided a DNA sample and a direct comparison to the profile of the unidentified person confirmed that the remains belonged to 16-year-old Yeimy Maciela Beltrand. Beltrand had been reported missing to the Houston Police Department by her mother on April 30, 2021. Investigators believe she was killed in Harris County and that her body was subsequently transported and left in neighboring Wharton County.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has now opened a homicide investigation. During the course of the inquiry, a witness came forward and reported seeing the teen’s boyfriend shoot her. In August, a murder charge was filed against the suspect, 27-year-old Luis Omar Beltran-Mendoza. However, he has not yet been apprehended and remains at large.

The casework costs associated with advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy at Othram were contributed by Project Justice, a philanthropic effort to reduce the backlog of unsolved cases. We are grateful for this funding which allowed us to assist law enforcement in working this case.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can support ongoing forensic investigations by uploading their DNA data to the DNASolves database. This is especially important in cases where the unidentified person may come from a biogeographical background that is underrepresented in existing genetic genealogy databases.

The identification of Yeimy Beltrand represents the 23rd case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual in collaboration with Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Texas cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Mark James Denger has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mark Denger is recognized for his many years of dedicated military service, leadership, operational excellence and expertise. With a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Denger is a recognized subject matter expert in his field, currently serving as the chief historian heading up the Military History Office for the California Military Department. Prior to assuming this role in 2024, he has been responsible for preserving and interpreting the military history of California, inclusive of ensuring that California's National Guard's legacy and heritage is accurately documented, preserved and accessible for future generations.

In addition to this primary role, Mr. Denger also serves as a cultural property protection professional. In this capacity, he provides expert guidance as both a consultant and resource advisor to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services on safeguarding California's many archaeological sites, historic monuments and structures, objects of antiquity, historic landmarks, artifacts and other objects of historic or scientific significance pertaining to the military history of California.

Leveraging decades of expertise in military history, archives, and museum curation, he now leads program development for the Heritage Emergency Response Team (HERT) within the California Military Department. Under Mr. Denger's leadership, HERT has been established as California's first non-firefighting, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional Type 3 All-Hazards/All-Artifacts Incident Management Team (IMT) and Cultural Property Protection Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT). Although a new and evolving concept in California's emergency management and homeland security disciplines, the HERT's mission is to rapidly respond, support, and assist museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions in safeguarding collections and heritage resources during and immediately after natural disasters or emergencies.

Mr. Denger's longstanding commitment to the preservation and protection of California's military history is further demonstrated by his ongoing service as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) for the Military Museum Command, California State Guard. In this context, he is also being recognized for his earlier tenure as both an archival technician and field historian with California Military Heritage Command, having assisted in the oversight of the California National Guard's museum activities and historical programs under the U.S. Army Museum Enterprise. From 1996 to 2015, he served in similar roles within the California Center for Military History, focusing on the preservation and restoration of critical historical documents and records.

Mr. Denger's expertise in museum management and operations was honed during his time as curator and archivist at the California State Military Museum from 2013 to 2014. During this period, he also served as the artifact responsible officer for the U.S. Army's Center of Military History, managing the stewardship of state and federal military artifacts located throughout the state. His earlier work in this field includes serving as archivist and registrar at the American Heritage Library and Museum from 1995 to 2010, and as a research historian with Tetra Tech under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Formerly Used Defense Sites Program from 2005 and 2007, conducting in-depth investigations into military sites across California.

Mr. Denger's early career has also featured positions in procurement and supply chain management. His background in project management has included roles as a materials manager and project coordinator with Plexus Corporation from 2000 to 2002 and serving as a special project manager and in procurement roles with Rockwell International / Boeing's Space Systems and Space Transportation Systems Divisions, and the Jensen-Kelly Corporation. This professional journey in aerospace is deeply rooted in his earlier military service having served in submarine satellite communications with the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1983.

Academically, Mr. Denger's military education includes completion of the Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, along with significant coursework at the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combat Studies Institute, and the Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law. He holds certifications in Crisis, Emergency and Disaster Management from the California Specialized Training Institute, as well as additional certificates in emergency management from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Fire Academy as well as various other credentials in criminal justice and management.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Denger has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to patriotic, civic, and community service. He is President Emeritus of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California and Senior Advisor to the Children of the American Revolution. He is also a past President of the Society of the War of 1812 in California, where he additionally served as Vice President General of the General Society. His memberships include the Sons of the American Revolution and the Military Order of the Carabao.

In 1997, he founded the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, serving as its first base commander until 2003, and he also represented the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II as a relief crew member. From 1996 to 1998, he served on the Los Angeles Veterans Advisory Council. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion. Mr. Denger's volunteer work includes long-standing involvement with the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, reflecting his strong belief in giving back to his community.

In his personal life, he is deeply devoted to his family and community, and is the proud father of one son, Steven Michael. Reflecting on his career, Mr. Denger attributes much of his success to effective networking, a skill that has enabled him to build lasting professional relationships and advance collaborative projects throughout his career. In the upcoming years, he plans to retire with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, after completing a distinguished career devoted to preserving California's military history and supporting veterans' causes.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is partnering with Missouri University of Science & Technology to host an in-person and virtual lecture series about desegregation in higher education.

The series kicked off Tuesday with an opening reception at the Curtis Laws Wilson Library in Rolla, and will host lectures on Oct. 14, 21 and 28.

Hosted in honor of the 75th anniversary of desegregation in higher education, Missouri S&T was home to some of the first Black students integrated in a Missouri university in 1950.

"Our two students, George Everett Horne and Elmer Bell Jr., were the very first Black students in one of the public universities in Missouri," Missouri S&T archivist Debra Griffith said. "Since it was those two people who came here and it's the 75th anniversary, we decided this was a good time to honor them."

Horne and Bell enrolled following a lawsuit filed in 1950. When they enrolled, the Rolla community was still segregated and was home to only 42 Black residents. Both transferred after their first semester at Missouri S&T to the University of Missouri, where there was a larger Black population.

Gary Kremer, executive director of the State Historical Society of Missouri, will host the first lecture on Oct. 14. His lecture will focus on the challenges faced in the fight for desegregation of Missouri public schools after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. From this case, the court ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. Kremer's discussion will include insight into the white and Black resistance to desegregation.

The next lecture, hosted on Oct. 21 by Larry Gragg, covers the process of desegregation at Mizzou and Missouri S&T from 1950-63. Gragg, the Missouri S&T university historian, plans to cover the efforts that played a role in the integration of Black students into the culture at both universities.

Horne and Bell were joined by Gus Ridgel in filing the 1950 lawsuit that allowed Black students to attend universities other than historically Black colleges or universities. However, the road for desegregation at Mizzou started 12 years earlier with Lloyd Gaines.

Gaines, a prospective law student, filed a lawsuit for admission to Mizzou's law school in 1938. One of Missouri's HBCUs, Lincoln University, did not have a law program. In the 12 years that followed, multiple lawsuits, from Gaines and other students, were filed to grant admission to Black students with no success.

The 1950 lawsuit filed by Horne, Bell and Ridgel through the NAACP was the final piece to the puzzle and allowed Black students to enroll at MU if Lincoln University did not have their preferred major.

Four years later, the decision from Brown v. Board of Education cemented desegregation in the American school system.

The series' final lecture will be hosted by Harvest Collier, Missouri S&T's first African American faculty member. Collier, hired by Missouri S&T in 1982 as an assistant professor of chemistry, went on to serve as vice provost of undergraduate studies before retiring in 2012. Collier will provide his insight on faculty desegregation at Missouri S&T and his experiences as a STEM student, research scientist and professor from over three decades with the university.

When looking at the importance of the history of desegregation, Griffith said she emphasizes remembering it.

"It's important because we tend to think now that Black students were always allowed to go to public universities, and that isn't true," Griffith said. "People have forgotten that history, that this is a fairly recent development."

Each lecture will be hosted in-person at the Curtis Laws Wilson Library in Rolla and virtually over Zoom from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The registration link for Zoom can be found at shsmo.org/calendar.

Nitrate film poses a dangerous risk to archives, museums and other cultural institutions. But, how are these organizations preserving this flammable film? The Wyoming State Historic Records and Advisory Board (SHRAB) invites the public to this month’s Quick Tips, which will share the preservation strategies of the Wyoming State Archives and the American Heritage Center. In a collaborative panel, Cindy Brown, Bill Hopkins and Emmaline Velasquez will discuss their techniques, tips and tricks for preserving nitrate film.

The session will be held Oct. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Google Meet at meet.google.com/bgr-reit-tkr or by dialing (US) +1 319-449-2718, PIN: 581 688 137#.

Our speakers

University of Wyoming American Heritage Center Assistant Director and Head of Collections Management Bill Hopkins and Wyoming State Archives Digital Archivist Cindy Brown collaborated on researching and developing their institutions’ nitrate-negative solution.

Emmaline Velasquez is the primary processor for the Carrigen Nitrate Negative Collection and has previously worked as a registrar, docent, and scanning technician. She will provide practical, hands-on advice for working with these materials.

The speakers will share their experiences and practical solutions from their ongoing work with nitrate film through their presentation. Participants will learn about the challenges and hands-on strategies involved in working with this highly flammable material.

Attendees will learn: 

• Challenges and Strategies for Preserving Nitrate Film and Negatives
• Freezer Storage Preparation, Monitoring, and Safety Practices
• Project Planning and Resource Needs for Nitrate Projects
• Practical Handling and Digitization Tips for Nitrate
• Supporting Wyoming's Cultural Heritage Mission

The Roving Archivist Program Quick Tips series represents SHRAB's ongoing commitment to providing accessible professional development for Wyoming's cultural heritage community. These sessions support institutions statewide in improving their preservation practices and collections care.

For more information about the Roving Archivist Program, visit rovingarchivist.wyo.gov/home or email spcr.rovingarchivist@wyo.gov.

After six decades, the suspect in the assault and murder of Catherine Blackburn of Albany, New York has been identified.

In September 1964, 50-year-old Catherine Bik Blackburn was sexually assaulted and murdered in her home on Colonie Street in Albany, New York. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Albany Police Department, and a homicide investigation was opened. Investigators collected a significant amount of evidence, including blood samples, a footprint in the yard, and slips of paper believed to be connected to the killer. Blackburn, a foreman at the Fuller Brush Company, rented out a room in her home and was separated from her husband, who was an Air Corps veteran working in Japan.

Investigators learned that Blackburn had recently cancelled newspaper ads to rent out the room and painted the rental unit the same weekend she was killed. Investigators found a slip of paper with the same numbers as the house, "117" and receipt torn from Catherine's receipt book. Investigators were able to read the name on the missing receipt by examining pen impressions on the next sheet of paper in the book. That name did not lead to any known person and was determined to likely be fictitious. Despite an extensive investigation that went on for years, the case went cold and no suspect was identified.

In 2023, the Albany Police Department, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

With this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. The potential suspect, who had died in 1998, was exhumed and DNA was collected and compared to the DNA from the 1964 crime scene. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Joseph Nowakowski, born in 1931.

Nowakowski died in 1998 after several stints in prison, according to officials. He was convicted of a similar assault of an elderly woman in Schenectady in 1973 and officials believe that Nowakowski is likely connected to other criminal cases in the area.

Advanced DNA testing at Othram was made possible through a grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases.

This case is a reminder that every piece of preserved evidence has the potential to unlock long-awaited answers. If you would like to support efforts to solve more cases like this, consider contributing your DNA data to the DNASolves database which aids law enforcement in identifying suspects and giving families the answers they deserve.

The identification of the suspect represents the 14th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other New York cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

A warning to readers, this story contains graphic content.

A man has been a sentenced in one of Canada’s first genetic genealogy cases, where a victim remains alive.

Bradley Britton, 62, from Innisfil, pleaded guilty to two historical sexual assault offences against 20-something women in the GTA between 1987 and 1993.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five for the initial Toronto incident and three for a second Oakville matter, during which the judge commented on the “stark horror” the victims must have felt during the incidents.

On May 23, 1987, Britton snuck into a woman’s Toronto bedroom around 3 a.m., put his hand over her mouth and held a kitchen knife at her neck, telling her to remain quiet so that he would not hurt her.

The woman, whose identity is protected by court order and is only known in legal documents as N.G., had a one-year-old child sleeping beside her in bed.

On that night, Britton removed his tank top, covered the woman’s eyes with it and penetrated her, telling her to say the sex was better than her husband, who was sleeping in the next room with two older daughters aged five and nine.

Britton asked her to have an orgasm.

In “stark fear,” she complied.

On his way out, Britton, 24 at the time, demanded she not tell anyone about the incident, noting that he knew who she was and where she lived.

Police would later identify pry marks on the front door, court documents said.

A little over five years later, Britton ran up on a petite woman, aged 20, known as A.N., grabbed her by the neck and pushing her under a highway alcove.

Britton undid his pants, masturbated himself and then penetrated her with both his hands around her neck.

“He told her not to tell anyone and that he would be watching her,” court documents said.

The victim was crying and telling Britton she did not want to have sex. Afterwards, A.N. was forced to wave down a passing car for help.

Justice Clayton Conlan told the court that Toronto and Halton police had engaged in a “dogged, determined” investigation with the help of Othram, a genetic genealogy laboratory in Texas to solve the first Canadian sex assault case using this technology.

Britton was arrested in 2023, some 30 years after the second attack.

N.G. is now deceased, but Conlan told the court her daughters’ victim impact statements were heart-wrenching, explaining how N.G. was never the same person again.

“Not physically,” he said. “Not mentally. Not in any way.”

As for Britton, the court heard how despite him holding a lengthy criminal record, not including any convictions for sex assault, assault or weapon offences, he’d been off the books in terms of crimes since 1989.

He is divorced, has a son and comes from a dysfunctional background, where he was exposed to violence, substance and sexual abuse.

The mitigating factors in the case include Britton taking responsibility for his crimes, advising that he’s been drug and alcohol free for years and his ongoing remorse for his crimes.

The defence recommended house arrest for two years and three years probation, but the court also heard the maximum sentence for these crimes was 14 years for the crime against N.G. and 10 years for the crime against A.N.

Conlan laid out the aggravating factors in stark terms.

“Britton vaginally penetrated two complete strangers, one who was sleeping in the sanctity of her own home and with her infant beside her in the bed and the other who was simply walking back home from the movie store,” he wrote. “Britton used violence against these women. He threatened them. He disrespected, demeaned, humiliated and violated them in ways that are difficult to understand.”

If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault please contact 911, your local police or 1-888-579-2888 for the 24/7 Victim Support Line to get connected with resources.

Helen Dymond of National Mine went missing on June 28, 1981, vanishing without a trace. This is the case Northern Michigan University and the Michigan State Police are working on together; both hope the public can help as well.

Holly Letson, granddaughter of Dymond, visited the NMU cold case class Thursday to provide information to the students and the context of the area as well as family history.

“You are giving us a little hope again,” Letson said.

Meeting a family member related to the subject of the cold case and being in the same county is eye-opening to the students working in the cold case program.

“It is a breath of fresh air and it provides the motivation behind it,” said cold case student Jalin Halcome. “The whole reason we do this cold case thing is to help the families and the victims. So meeting with someone is super rewarding.”

August saw the NMU cold case program solve its first case, a 39-year-old sexual assault in Delta County. The program has worked on 12 other cases and provided assistance to MSP in those cases.

“Any information you may have,” said Lt. Benjamin Eckola of MSP. “If you are a resident or anywhere in the National Mine area back then when she went missing, or you went there, please share information if you have it.”

Dymond was last seen walking along Marquette Country Road 496 from the then Tilden Township Hall, now the private Tilden Township Club. She was 48 years old, white, 5 feet 2 inches in height, weighed about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She would be 92 years old today.

Any information on the disappearance of Helen Dymond should be given to the MSP at 906-475-9922.

Discover your family’s history at the “Family Ghosts” Genealogy Resources Workshop at the Oswego Public Library! Join us on Thursday, October 9th, from 4 to 5 PM in the library’s community room.

Put together the pieces of the past and explore vital information to uncover the roots of your family tree. This workshop will introduce you to valuable resources available at the library, including Ancestry.com, microfilm archives of the Palladium Times and other newspapers, as well as online resources like NYHeritage.org, NYSHistoricNewspapers.org, and FindAGrave.com.

These tools will equip you with the skills needed to navigate various resources and conduct your family research, helping you reconnect with and rediscover your family’s history.

The workshop will take place at 120 E 2nd Street in the library’s community room on the lower level. This program is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact us at 315.341.5867 or email oswlib@ncls.org.

The Oswego Public Library is a vibrant community hub where people of all ages can learn, connect, and grow. With a wide array of books, digital resources, and engaging programs, the library is proud to serve as a cornerstone of lifelong learning in Oswego County. To learn more, visit https://oswegopubliclibrary.org/services/.

The skeletal remains of a white male discovered 36 years ago in Franklin County have been identified as Ernest Emerson Carter, born in 1923.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced the breakthrough, crediting the success to a collaborative effort involving advanced forensic genealogy.

"Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were on display in this case," Yost said. The remains were found on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road, but little is known about Carter's life or death.

Dr. Overmire emphasized the importance of dignity and respect for the deceased, stating, "Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf." He praised the efforts of his office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and community partners in solving the mystery.

BCI became involved in 2000 through Project LINK, an initiative collecting DNA samples from unidentified remains and missing persons. Despite advanced DNA testing, no leads emerged until last year when the nonprofit Porchlight Project funded further testing by Othram, a Texas-based forensics company.

I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved," said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist.

Genealogists and BCI's Criminal Intelligence Unit built a family tree, leading to a match with a male relative whose DNA confirmed the remains as Carter's. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram, highlighted the role of technology in providing answers to families, stating, "We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families."