About this episode

The episode chronicles the tragic 1971 murder of Rita Curran and how modern genetic genealogy helped solve the case after decades of mystery.

The episode chronicles the tragic 1971 murder of Rita Curran, a young teacher in Burlington, Vermont, whose death remained a mystery for over five decades. Though the investigation initially stalled and was long shadowed by speculation regarding serial killer Ted Bundy, the sources explain how the case was eventually solved through modern genetic genealogy. Investigators ultimately identified a neighbor living upstairs, William DeRoos, as the perpetrator after matching his DNA to a cigarette butt found at the crime scene. The narrative highlights the evolution of forensic science and the persistence of law enforcement in seeking justice for the Curran family. By detailing the victim's life and the eventual identification of her killer, the episode illustrates the powerful impact of DNA technology in resolving historical cold cases. This episode includes AI-generated content.

People in this episode

Host: Adidas Wilson

Topics covered

• murder
• cold case
• forensic science
• genetic genealogy
• justice
• Ted Bundy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: law enforcement, forensic science

Places: Burlington, Vermont

More episodes of Property Geek Hub

• The Disturbing Stories Of The Women Ted Bundy Killed — And The Few Who Survived · July 20, 2026 · 37 min
• 7 Ted Bundy Documentaries Every Real True-Crime Fan Needs to Watch · July 18, 2026 · 35 min
• How Ted Bundy’s Education Helped Him Lure Victims and Evade Arrest · July 18, 2026 · 41 min
• The Story of Ted Bundy, Who Studied Psychology and Law Before Murder · July 17, 2026 · 53 min
• Ted Bundy Confessed to Killing 30 Women—Here’s How He Gained Their Trust · July 17, 2026 · 40 min
• 5 Things to Know About Serial Killer Ted Bundy · July 16, 2026 · 51 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Property Geek Hub podcast page.