An Idaho man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a woman in California more than 50 years ago. Michael Eugene Mullen, 75, was identified as a suspect in the death of Nina “Nadine” Fischer in 1973, thanks to DNA evidence. Fischer, a 31-year-old Swedish national, was killed in her San Rafael home while preparing to move back to Sweden with her husband and young daughter.
Fischer's husband discovered her body after returning home from work. She had been sexually assaulted and shot three times, while her 2-year-old child was found unharmed in another room. Despite initial investigations yielding no leads, the case was reopened in 2021 when DNA evidence was submitted to the California Department of Justice's Familial Search Program.
After several months of analysis, a possible lead emerged, eventually leading to the identification of Mullen as the suspect. The Marin County District Attorney's office, along with law enforcement agencies from Idaho, worked together to arrest Mullen on suspicion of murder. He is currently being held in the Lemhi County jail awaiting extradition to California.
This breakthrough in the cold case serves as a reminder of the importance of advancements in forensic technology and the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies in seeking justice for victims and their families.
