U.S. police have announced the resolution of the 1975 murder of Ann Sturtz. The breakthrough in this case was not due to new DNA technology, amateur detectives, or podcasts, but rather relied on traditional detective work. This highlights the enduring importance of classic investigative methods in solving cold cases.
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03-14, 2025Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der stated, "Like any close-knit family, they still grieve her senseless death. She was loved and will continue to be loved." Sturtz disappeared in August 1975 after spending an evening at a club on Eutaw Street. Her body was discovered in December 1975 in a wooded area near Route 108 in Columbia, leaving her family in a state of uncertainty for decades.
Police announced on Tuesday that the murderer was a serial killer named Charles William Davis Jr. Davis had been in prison since 1978, serving three life sentences for three other murders. In 1981, police suspected Sturtz was Davis's fourth victim. However, considering Davis would never leave prison, they granted him immunity in exchange for information, a common practice in such situations.
The case went cold until fifty years later when cold case detectives reinvestigated the case and discovered Davis was eager to talk. Howard County Police Detective Wade Zufall stated, "He wanted to give the victim's family closure. He stated multiple times that he thought it was the right thing to do." Police said Davis confessed to the crime during a recorded meeting, finally bringing some resolution to the Sturtz family.
Zufall said, "He met Ann at a local bar, they left the bar, an argument ensued, and then a physical altercation occurred. He ultimately strangled her, and that was her cause of death." Although Davis has confessed, his immunity was reaffirmed last year, meaning he will not be charged in Sturtz's murder, a bittersweet ending to a long and painful journey.
