19-year-old Nancy Anderson was murdered in her home. 50 years later, DNA evidence led to an arrest.

When Michigan-born Nancy Anderson moved to Waikiki, Hawaii in 1971, her life had only just started.

At 19 years old, the recent high school graduate had moved solo from Colorado before heading off to college, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported. Her goal? To find herself and figure out what she wanted to do with her life — on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Mary Schiattone, one of Nancy's nine siblings, recounted in People Magazine Investigates: "She knew Hawaii is beautiful and if you're going to go anywhere, why not Hawaii?"

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After stepping off the plane, Nancy found herself an apartment in Honolulu, along with a roommate, 18-year-old Jody Spooner. She also got herself a job at the local McDonald's, where she made a close group of friends.

"Nancy, like the rest of our family, was raised to be trusting and kind," Mary said. "But that could also lead to being naive, because we didn't understand there could be real evil in the world."

However, on January 7th, 1972, just two months after moving to Hawaii, Anderson's trip of a lifetime took a chilling turn.

As per People, Spooner came home to find Anderson with two silverware salesmen. After the salesmen left, Spooner went into her bedroom and took a nap.

After she awoke, she heard water running in Anderson's room. When she entered her roommate's bedroom door, she found Anderson's dead body on the floor.

After running to the neighbours for help, Spooner called the police and reported a suspected suicide.

Investigators arrived at the scene to find Anderson had been brutally stabbed 63 times and died from a knife wound to the heart.

"She was an integral part of our family and when she was killed it just left a hole in our hearts and in our family," her brother, Jack Anderson, told Hawaii News Now.

Nancy Anderson, victim of Hawaii's oldest cold case, solved through DNA evidence. Image: Honolulu Police Department.

With no leads, the case ran cold for more than 50 years. Anderson's unsolved murder became the state's oldest cold case.

"The case went cold rather quickly because we had no leads. We interviewed a lot of people, we asked cutlery people and her roommate. It went on and on we weren't old enough to jump in and help the police," Schiattone told Island News.

How DNA evidence solved a 50-year-old murder.

In 2021, however, Honolulu Police received a tip that 77-year-old Tudor Chirila, a then-neighbour of Anderson's, could be a suspect.

Using DNA analysis found on a blood-stained towel in the apartment, genealogists produced "trait predictions" for the possible suspect, showing what he might have looked like at 25.

After obtaining DNA from the suspect's son, police were able to arrest Chirila and obtain a warrant to collect a DNA sample.

The DNA sample matched the blood found on a bathroom towel at the crime scene more than 50 years ago.

In 2022, Chirila was arrested and placed in custody, pleading not guilty.

Image: Reno Police Department.

However, in 2024, while waiting to face trial for murdering Anderson, accused murderer Tudor Chirila Jr. died in prison at the age of 78.

"Our family always had faith we would eventually find out about who was behind her murder. We didn't think he'd still be alive but we always hoped for something," Schiattone told Island News.

While they will never know who Chirila was to Anderson and why he allegedly killed her, Anderson's family said they can find peace in knowing he spent his last days behind bars.

"We're going to meet as a family and have a big celebration. It's finally over after 52 years, it's been quite a journey. Nancy has been with us and she helped guide us."

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Feature image: Honolulu Police Department; Reno Police Department.