With the help of advanced DNA analysing technology, police managed to identify a man that attacked, raped, and strangled a woman to death in 1987.
Evidence in the case of the killing of Mary Mathis Davis was stored for 35 years as it couldn't be utilised to shed light on the case.
Meanwhile, the murderer got away with the terrifying crime, lived his life as a free man and died in 2013 at the age of 58.
The 29-year-old mother of two was working at the time at a Lanier Ace Hardware store in Lexington, North Carolina.
On May 30, 1987, she left the store to go on a lunch break, and that's when the predator targeted her, and reportedly strangled and killed her after raping her.
Davis' body was found the next day behind a Winn-Dixie grocery store that was at the time at 802 East Center Street, a 20-minute walk from Davis' work.
Investigators in 1987 collected evidence that "at the time really didn’t serve a lot of purposes", Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage said.
In a news conference, he added: "But the wisdom of collecting them is the reason we are here today. That evidence wasn’t viable in assisting the case until very, very recently."
The offender was identified as Russell Grant Wood, of Lexington, NC. He was 32 at the time of his crime. According to the police, he and the victim knew each other but it is unclear what their relationship was.
Wood can't be indicted anymore as he died in 2013 at the age of 58. But police said that, if he lived, he would be charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape.
Rummage said that Wood had previously been identified as a potential suspect, but evidence at the time was not sufficient to charge him with the crime. He didn't reveal a motive for the crime, saying "that would be nothing but conjecture."
The discovery brought closure to Davis' family who waited decades for an answer. They were notified of the new information on February 3.
In a news conference, Lori Martin, Davis' niece, said: "We prayed that one day we would find the person who violently murdered our beloved Mary.
"We now have some answers. Although that won't bring Mary back, it does give us a sense of closure."
She also thanked the police and added: "You have done a phenomenal job revisiting the case over the past 36 years and it was reassuring to know that Mary was not just some file up on a shelf."
Traci Cleary, Davis' daughter, read a poem she wrote in memory of her late mother: "To my dear angel in heaven, I just want you to know / how much you're in my thoughts and how much I love you so / though you are in God's care and that's how it should be / but when I get to heaven, he will give you back to me."
The family is having a celebration to commemorate Davis' life on Sunday, February 12, when the victim would be turning 65.
Othram, the company that worked on the DNA analysis, as part of a collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, explained the process followed.
In a statement, they said: "In 2022, DNA evidence from the case was sent to Othram Inc., and Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown male suspect.
"Othram built a comprehensive genealogy profile from the remaining DNA extract, and then Othram's in-house genealogical team used the profile to produce investigative leads.
"Othram then returned investigative leads to Investigators. As part of a follow-up investigation, investigators identified the suspect."
