DNA Links Man to Murder in 1984

Authorities on Long Island announced a major breakthrough Wednesday in the decades-old murder of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, who was found dead in 1984 after leaving work at a Lynbrook skating rink, as reported by The New York Post.

Nassau County prosecutors said Richard Bilodeau, 63, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the crime after advanced DNA testing linked him to the killing.

Bilodeau, who was working the overnight shift at a Walmart in Suffolk County, was arraigned before Judge Helene Gugerty and ordered held without bail.

Fusco disappeared on November 10, 1984, after being fired from her job at the Hot Skates skating rink. Her body was found nearly a month later, on December 5, buried beneath leaves in a wooded area just blocks away. Prosecutors said she had been raped, beaten, and strangled.

41 years after Theresa Fusco’s murder, and the wrongful conviction of 3 men, DNA evidence from a smoothie cup and straw leads to the arrest of RIchard Bilodeau. #coldcase @nassauDA @1010WINS pic.twitter.com/GpR8NhfquE

— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) October 15, 2025

“I never gave up hope,” her father, Thomas Fusco, told reporters outside court.

“I always had faith in the system. For me, hearing that there was someone [who took] my daughter’s life will bring closure to me and my family. It’s heartbreaking to go through this over and over again, but this seems like a finalization and I’m very grateful.”

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Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Jared Rosenblatt said the key evidence came from a DNA sample taken from the victim at the time of the murder.

Investigators compared that evidence to DNA recovered from a discarded cup Bilodeau threw away at a Tropical Smoothie café near his home in February.

DNA from this smoothie straw matched DNA evidence recovered from the body of 16 year old Theresa Fusco, murdered on LI in 1984. #coldcase @NassauDA . Suspect Richard Bilodeau charged. @1010WINS pic.twitter.com/L4JSJUG6yA

— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) October 15, 2025

“The DNA from that straw, Richard Bilodeau’s DNA, was a match to the sample that was taken from Theresa’s body,” Rosenblatt said.

“When questioned, the defendant denied knowing her, denied recognizing her pictures, and when told about when the crime occurred, [he said], ‘Yeah, people got away with murder back then.’”

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Bilodeau was 24 at the time of the crime and living with his grandparents about a mile from the skating rink. “Science and DNA evidence doesn’t lie, period,” Donnelly said. “When you have a DNA match — 100% match — we got the guy.”

Suspect identified as 63-year-old Richard Bilodeau was arraigned in court and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Fusco’s killing after being indicated by a grand jury on Wednesday, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announces. https://t.co/Oo0mzRqEfT pic.twitter.com/2xk2alNDot

— Jorge Flores Nava (@JorgeFNAVA) October 15, 2025

The case initially led to the arrest and conviction of three other men — John Restivo, Dennis Halstead, and John Kogut — who served up to 18 years in prison before DNA evidence cleared them. They were released in 2003 and later won a $43 million judgment for wrongful prosecution.

Defense attorney Daniel Russo denied that Bilodeau was responsible for the crime, but prosecutors expressed confidence in the forensic match. Bilodeau is scheduled to return to court on November 21.

After the hearing, Thomas Fusco embraced relatives and thanked investigators for never giving up.

Holding a photo of his daughter, he told reporters, “Everything that’s been said, I can tell you it’s been documented over the years, and I only loved her and miss her. She lives in my heart, as you can see.”

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