Police Solve Nursing Student’s Kidnapping and Murder After 44 Years

A 78-year-old man has been charged with a murder that occurred more than 40 years ago, thanks to advancements in genetic genealogy that led investigators to identify him as a suspect.

Deck Brewer Jr., who is currently serving time in Massachusetts, has been charged with the 1980 murder of Susan Leigh Wolfe, as confirmed by the Austin, Texas, Police Department.

Susan Wolfe, only 25 at the time, had recently enrolled as a nursing student at the University of Texas at Austin. Tragically, she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered on January 9, 1980.

On that fateful evening, Wolfe was walking just one block from her home about 10 p.m. when she was abducted. A witness reported seeing a car pull over, with the driver exiting the vehicle to grab Wolfe in what was described as a “bear hug.” The driver placed a coat over her head and forced her into the backseat of the car, according to police reports.

The following morning, her body was discovered in an alley in Austin. Evidence revealed signs of ligature strangulation, with the official cause of death determined to be a gunshot wound to her head.

During the subsequent autopsy, a pathologist identified signs of sexual assault, linked to one of two unknown suspects seen in the vehicle at the time of Wolfe’s abduction.

In the year following Wolfe’s murder, investigators pursued countless leads and attempted to track down numerous vehicles that matched the witness’s account. Over the years, police identified more than 40 persons of interest and interviewed at least six different suspects.

In April 2023, detectives revisited the evidence associated with Wolfe’s sexual assault, sending it to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory for further examination. Forensic experts concluded that the evidence was suitable for testing.

By February, the Austin police received results that produced a male DNA profile of the suspect. With this new information, investigators eliminated the six original suspects who did not match the DNA evidence collected from the crime scene.

This profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database that contains DNA profiles from convicted offenders, evidence from unsolved cases, and information on missing persons.

In March, police received notification of a potential match in Massachusetts, where Brewer is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges. Following this notification, detectives conducted a brief interview with Brewer, during which he acknowledged having been in Austin and San Antonio around the time of the murder. However, when informed that DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene, Brewer requested legal representation.

After a DNA comparison was completed, an Austin court found sufficient probable cause to formally charge Brewer with the murder of Susan Wolfe.

This case serves as a chilling reminder of the long-lasting impact of violent crimes and how advancements in forensic technology can provide closure, even decades later.

As investigators continue to work on cold cases using modern techniques, there is a renewed hope for justice for victims and their families, demonstrating that no matter how much time has passed, the pursuit of justice remains unwavering.