Thursday, January 06, 2000
Closing in on Patty's killer
Evidence in 1963 murder unsealed
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Patty Rebholz's blood-stained blouse, held by assistant prosecutor Mark Piepmeier, may hold DNA clues.
(Gary Landers photo)
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A blood-covered blouse and a stack of old tape recordings may be the keys to ending one of Hamilton County's longest homicide investigations.
Prosecutors announced Wednesday they are stepping up efforts to find the person who beat to death 15-year-old Patricia Ann Rebholz in 1963.
The case is one of the county's oldest unsolved homicides.
In the coming months, they said, investigators will study original recordings of witness interviews as well as DNA samples from blood on several articles of clothing.
Patty Rebholz
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The clothing, along with other evidence from the crime scene, was unsealed Wednesday at the prosecutor's office.
Prosecutor Mike Allen said the recordings could contain valuable information, including details that could lead to the killer.
“We have reason to believe there could be a confession from a suspect,” Mr. Allen said.
He would not identify who is on the tapes or say why prosecutors think they could contain a confession.
He said the recordings are so old they will not play on modern tape recorders. The county has hired a transcription service to play them and transcribe the interviews.
The moves announced Wednesday are the latest developments in an investigation that began to heat up in November when Mr. Allen as signed a lawyer and two investigators to the case.
At the time, Mr. Allen identified Patty's then-boyfriend, Michael Wehrung, as a suspect.
Mr. Wehrung, who still lives in the Cincinnati area, was questioned several times by police in 1963 but was never charged with a crime. His attorney, Jack Rubenstein, said his client would not comment on the case.
The case began on Aug. 9, 1963, when a police officer spotted Patty's body sprawled in a vacant lot along Jennings Road in Greenhills.
The high school cheerleader had been ambushed and severely beaten as she walked home after a dance.
The case stunned the community and generated front-page headlines throughout the summer.
As he went through the old evidence Wednesday, Assistant Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier said DNA testing that was unavailable 36 years ago could provide a big break in the case.
“The main difference is the ability to do scientific testing,” Mr. Piepmeier said. “At the time, there was some good circumstantial evidence, but the powers that be decided it was not enough.”
He said the coroner's office will test the blouse to see whether it is stained with blood from anyone other than Patty.
Mr. Piepmeier said the coroner also will test small brown stains on shoes and jeans that belonged to Mr. Wehrung.
But he said that clothing had been damaged by water while it was stored at the Greenhills police station. He said the damage may make it difficult to obtain DNA samples.
During the past two months, Mr. Allen said, prosecutors have visited the crime scene, gone through Mr. Wehrung's former home and reviewed old case notes from several investigating officers.
“It's taking time,” Mr. Allen said, “but the most important thing to me is getting a resolution.”
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