66 YEARS AFTER AN 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS MURDERED, DNA POINTS TO A FORMER HOMICIDE DETECTIVE

For more than six decades, the murder of an eight-year-old Chicago girl remained an unsolved mystery. Now, investigators say a breakthrough in forensic technology has revealed a disturbing connection: the suspected killer was a former police detective who later worked on homicide investigations himself.

Chicago police announced that DNA and fingerprint evidence have linked former officer Thomas F. McInerney Jr. to the 1960 killing of Gloria Kowalewicz, a child who disappeared while walking to church.

A Little Girl Who Never Made It to Church

In 1960, eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz was abducted while making her way to church in Chicago.

Her disappearance quickly turned into a tragedy when her body was discovered in a ditch in a forest preserve just hours later. She had been fatally shot.

Investigators collected evidence from the crime scene, including a bullet, the child’s clothing and a white communion purse.

Despite years of investigative work, the case remained unresolved.

A Breakthrough After 66 Years

Decades later, advances in forensic science allowed investigators to reexamine evidence that had been preserved from the original investigation.

Using modern DNA analysis, forensic genealogy and fingerprint evidence, authorities identified Thomas F. McInerney Jr. as the suspect.

The discovery was particularly shocking because McInerney had joined the Chicago Police Department in 1959, one year before Gloria’s murder.

He later became a homicide detective, working within the same law enforcement system responsible for investigating violent crimes.

The Suspect Was a Former Homicide Detective

McInerney retired from the Chicago Police Department in 1987 and subsequently worked for the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

He died in 2006, meaning he cannot be prosecuted for Gloria’s murder.

Chicago police expressed deep concern over the findings, acknowledging the devastating implications of discovering that someone who had worn a police badge was now linked to the killing of a child.

The identification has also raised questions about whether other investigations involving McInerney may warrant further examination.

Authorities Begin Reviewing Other Cases

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has indicated that efforts are underway to identify cases in which McInerney may have been involved.

The FBI is also pursuing additional leads connected to unresolved crimes from that period.

Authorities have not established that McInerney committed other murders, and the newly announced forensic findings should not be interpreted as proof of involvement in unrelated cases.

A Child’s Story Finally Receives New Answers

Gloria Kowalewicz was only eight years old when her life was taken. For 66 years, the question of who killed her remained unanswered.

Although the identified suspect died before investigators made their breakthrough, the case demonstrates how preserved evidence and modern forensic technology can help uncover answers decades after a crime.

For Gloria’s story, the discovery marks a significant development in one of Chicago’s long-unsolved child murder investigations.

Source: Associated Press, October 13, 2026. Reporting based on findings announced by the Chicago Police Department.