California man who allegedly killed woman amid paternity suit in 1980 is arrested

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TCN) — Police recently arrested an 81-year-old man on suspicion of killing a woman nearly 44 years ago amid a paternity suit.

According to the Sacramento Police Department, on Aug. 28, 1980, Helen Terry was found deceased in her apartment from an apparent stabbing. Her 1-year-old son was alone inside the residence when the victim’s remains were discovered.

Despite investigators’ efforts, authorities were unable to gather enough evidence to identify and charge a suspect in the case, and it went cold. A police investigator reopened the case in 2016, and officials uncovered DNA from evidence at the scene, pointing to Robert Terry as the primary suspect. However, there still wasn’t enough evidence to charge him.

Police said Helen Terry had filed for child support, and she and Robert Terry were undergoing a paternity suit at the time. Robert Terry was believed to be the child’s father, but he reportedly denied paternity.

According to police, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case, Science, and Technology Unit continued to work on the investigation and reexamined the case this year. Using “advanced investigative methods,” authorities reportedly found new information and obtained the necessary evidence to charge Robert Terry on suspicion of killing Helen Terry. He was booked into the Sacramento County Jail on Sept. 27 on a charge of murder and remains held without bail.

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