Who Killed Lindy Biechler? DNA Composites Released, Website Launched in 44-Year-old Murder Case | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman announced Thursday recent happenings in the unsolved murder of Lindy Sue Biechler, found killed in her Manor Township home in 1975. Biechler was 19 when she was stabbed to death in her Kloss Drive apartment. She was stabbed multiple times on Dec. 5, 1975, after returning to her home from a grocery store. To this date, no one is arrested or charged. 

The investigation of Biechler’s death is under the umbrella of District Attorney Stedman’s Cold Case Unit, consisting of an assistant district attorney and two Lancaster County Detectives, who work in unison with Manor Township police, which has jurisdiction over the case. 
District Attorney Stedman, on behalf of the Manor Township police, Lancaster County Detectives, and Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson, presents today: 
– A set of composite profiles, formed from DNA evidence, depicting a man who left DNA at the homicide scene. The identification of that man would be very impactful to the investigation. 
– A web address – WhoKilledLindyBiechler.com – which will serve as a tip-sharing forum and information resource; 
– An overview of work done in the investigation in recent years. 
“This case has never drifted from the minds of the investigators committed to catching Lindy’s killer,” District Attorney Stedman said. “Lindy’s family, including her husband, have grieved for decades without an answer to who took their loved one. This investigation is active, and there is no guarantee it will ultimately be solved. We do, however, assure we are doing everything we can and that includes the use of cutting-edge technology.” 
Composites were also created in 2017 in the investigation of Christy Mirack’s murder. Mirack was killed in her East Lampeter Township home in December of 1992. That investigation ended with the ideal result: an arrest and conviction of Raymond Rowe, who is now serving a life sentence. District Attorney Stedman cautions not to expect that result, although it is the ultimate goal in any cold case investigation. “This investigation is nearly entering its sixth decade,” DA Stedman said. “That is a lot of space in between fresh memories and recollections of events surrounding this tragic death. Individuals with potentially pertinent information – and even the killer – might have passed away by now.” The purpose of releasing this information and web address launch is to promote interest and discussions about the case. The composites are just that, composites based on a DNA profile; they are not photographs and the person depicted will likely have different features (hair style, facial hair, scars) in real life. 
Tips can be submitted: 
– To Lancaster City-County CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-322-1913 or text-messaging LANCS and your tip to 847411;
– Via the WhoKilledLindyBiechler.com website and associated CrimeWatch page (which has a red tip button); 
– By calling Manor Township police (717-299-5231) or the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office (717-299-8100). 
THE COMPOSITES 
The District Attorney’s Office hired a Virginia-based private firm, Parabon NanoLabs, to create the composites, also called phenotypes, based on DNA evidence extracted from the crime scene. Parabon also performed the phenotype composite work, along with genealogy work, in the Mirack investigation. 
Parabon completed work in the Biechler case in late July and presented the results to the District Attorney’s Office and Manor Township police. The lab provided two composites depicting the man at ages 25 and 65 (the man’s exact age at the time of the crime is unknown). The lab also provided characteristics of the man, based on scientific conclusions and theories, from the DNA analysis. 
Some characteristics of the man who left behind the DNA: 
– He is likely fair-skinned; 
– He very likely has hazel-colored eyes; 
– He almost certainly has dark hair; not blond or red; 
– He almost certainly has no freckles; The composites and phenotyping information/characteristics have already been very useful in disqualifying potential persons of interest. To alleviate allegations, we are making it public that DNA evidence and testing has cleared Biechler’s husband of being the person who left DNA at the scene. 
More information on the composites, how they are created and how they have assisted other national investigations, can be found here: https://snapshot.parabon-nanolabs.com/ 
We did have genealogy work done by a private company (not Parabon) using a different database from what was involved in the Mirack case. “That analysis has yielded some fairly significant leads, and we continue to work on those,” ADA Wilson said. 
THE WEB ADDRESS                                          The District Attorney’s Office purchased a URL – WhoKilledLindyBiechler.com – which links to a CrimeWatch page containing information on the case, the composites, and a tip-sharing forum. Individuals can provide information, anonymously if desired, which will go directly to investigators working the case. 
Potential names/locations of the person believed to be depicted in the composites, or any other information related to this case, would be of great value. “We are hoping the composites generate a memory response,” DA Stedman said. “Tips on a potential name could provide the break we need.” The webpage will also contain information on the investigation. 
THE INVESTIGATION
The Biechler murder has long been one of Lancaster County’s most notable unsolved cases. Manor Township has had chief jurisdiction over the crime since it happened. On the heels of the Raymond Rowe arrest, District Attorney Stedman formed a Cold Case Unit to devote resources and individuals to unsolved major crimes. The team is based at the DA’s Office and works in tandem with police from municipal departments with jurisdiction over the cases. In this case, Manor Township police Detectives Tricia Mazur and Matthew Wolf, County Detectives Christopher Erb and Larry Martin are primary investigators, with oversight and consultation from Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson. 
Part of the reason Biechler’s case was selected for review was the DNA profile left at the crime scene. Throughout the years, there have been several persons of interest. Recently, the investigative team has looked at multiple persons of interest; some of them were essentially cleared by the DNA phenotype work, which also provides nationality and ethnicity attributes. We are not releasing specifics about these individuals. “As of about a week ago, a person we considered under the web of possible persons of interest was cleared,” DA Stedman. “There is work being done daily on this case. We could use information from the public. We believe it very likely there are individuals we have not reached who might hold very relevant information.” 

Rachel's Challenge is coming to Columbia Schools

Rachel’s Challenge is coming to Columbia and you are invited.

Tuesday, Sept. 10, and Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia High School Auditorium – Students attending must be in 7th grade or above due to the content of the program.

Rachel’s Mission – Awakening individual TRANSFORMATION and promoting SAFER, MORE CONNECTED SCHOOLS.

More information on Rachel’s Challenge: https://rachelschallenge.org/

Columbia Architectural Tour to showcase Columbia's historic buildings

On Saturday, September 28, the Historic Preservation Trust (HPT) of Lancaster County will host the Columbia Architectural Tour, showcasing the beauty of buildings dating from the 1700s to the 1930s. “Each of the 25 sites is significant, and that’s why we picked it to be part of the tour,” explained Matt Barley, HPT board member and tour committee chair. The guided exterior walking tours will be led by architectural designers and are set to begin at 10 a.m. and depart every half-hour through 3 p.m. on Sept. 28. Participants must check in for the tour at the Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, to receive wristbands and a tour booklet. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Although 25 properties are included in the tour, not all of those will be part of the guided portion of the tour. Tour goers will each receive a 75-page booklet including historical background and anecdotes for each of the sites, and they may explore the other properties on their own during tour hours. A trolley will be running on a loop throughout town as another mode of transportation for participants to reach all of the sites.

Go HERE for more information and registration.

Lancaster MusicFest to host festival benefiting LHOP and Children's Miracle Network

Lancaster MusicFest will host its second annual outdoor music festival experience to benefit Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership and Children’s Miracle Network.

Lancaster MusicFest will be held at Buchanan Park on September 14, 2019 from 11am until 8pm. Kelly Bell Band will headline the event, joined by local music artists from Pennsylvania and Lancaster County. The event will also feature food from local restaurants and food trucks, a beer and wine garden featuring craft beer from local breweries, local artisans, and plenty of space to relax with friends, all in a fresh air festival environment minutes from downtown Lancaster. 
Lancaster MusicFest is a family-friendly event, with activities for kids, including a special Kids Music Experience with Mark
Derose and Nick DiSanto, face painting, street magicians, a reptile exhibit, and more.

Artists scheduled to perform include Kelly Bell Band, Little Buddy, Lavacave, Mark Derose & Dreadnought Brigade, Hydroponic Philharmonic , Adrian Garcia Music and The Band Alow.

Tickets are on sale now, and admission for kids 12 and under are free. For tickets and more information, visit lancastermusicfest.com. Also check out Lancaster MusicFest on Facebook.

Also:

It’s CONTEST TIME! A #VIPTICKET Give-Away of TWO VIP tickets to Lancaster MusicFest 2019 on Saturday, September 14 in Buchanan Park!
Register between now and 5:00pm Sunday, September 8 for a General Admission Ticket ($20 each – use Code LHOP) and you will be entered into a RANDOM DRAWING to #WIN a PAIR of #VIP Tickets to Lancaster MusicFest ($150.00 VALUE)
#VIPAccess includes:
◘ MusicFest Access
◘ Event T-Shirt
◘ VIP Tent Access
◘ Separate Viewing Area
◘ Table Service
◘ Full Cash Bar
◘ Artist Meet and Greet
Get your tickets #TODAY at http://bit.ly/LancMusicFest
Use code LHOP with your ticket purchase!
The winners will be notified via email next week.

The Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP) is a community benefit, charitable non-profit organization and certified CDFI in Lancaster County with a history of making a positive impact by assisting people access and create fair and affordable housing. With the understanding that “good housing is the foundation of a great community,” LHOP provides targeted education and training programs, financial products, and technical assistance in fair and affordable home ownership and rental
housing opportunities.

[Source: Press release]