DNA Breakthrough Leads to Arrest in 40-Year-Old Murder Case of 23-Year-Old Woman

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — Nearly four decades after Teresa Ann Houck was found murdered in a city park, investigators have identified a suspect through DNA evidence preserved from the original investigation.

David Alexander Williams, 67, was charged in connection with Houck’s 1986 killing. In October 2026, a grand jury indictment moved the case forward, adding formal charges of murder, rape and a weapons offense.

A Young Woman Disappears After Leaving Work

Teresa Ann Houck was 23 when she disappeared in October 1986. Investigators learned that she worked as a dancer at the Pussycat Club in Baltimore.

According to information reported by CBS Baltimore, Houck left the club at approximately 2 a.m. on October 22. She was never seen alive again.

Her body was discovered in a grassy area of Druid Hill Park later that month. Investigators documented multiple gunshot wounds, but the case remained unresolved for decades.

Evidence Preserved for Future Testing

Although the investigation initially failed to identify a suspect, forensic evidence collected during the autopsy was preserved.

In 2005, scientists analyzed biological material recovered from Houck and developed a male DNA profile. That profile was entered into the national Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS.

For years, the evidence produced no publicly announced breakthrough. Investigators continued to rely on advances in forensic science and database comparisons to revisit older cases.

A DNA Match Changes the Investigation

In September 2025, a routine search of Maryland’s DNA database produced a match linking the profile to David Alexander Williams, according to the state attorney’s office.

Investigators then obtained an additional DNA sample from Williams. The Baltimore Police Department’s crime laboratory compared the samples and reported that the results matched the biological evidence recovered during Houck’s autopsy.

The finding provided investigators with a major lead in a case that had remained unsolved since 1986.

Charges Move the Cold Case Into Court

Williams was arrested in July 2026 and charged in connection with Houck’s death. On October 13, CBS Baltimore reported that he had been indicted on first-degree murder, first-degree rape and handgun-related charges.

Authorities described the case as an example of how preserved evidence and modern forensic techniques can help investigators revisit serious crimes that occurred decades ago.

The charges are allegations, not a conviction. Williams is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

A Search for Justice After Four Decades

The case highlights the importance of preserving forensic evidence, even when an investigation appears to have reached a dead end.

For Houck’s loved ones, the identification of a suspect represents a significant development after decades without answers. The legal process will now determine how the allegations proceed in court.

Source: CBS Baltimore, September 22 and October 13, 2026; information attributed to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office.