In brief
Richard Bilodeau has been indicted on murder charges in the 1984 cold case of Theresa Fusco, a Long Island teen whose notorious murder led to the wrongful convictions of three men. After four decades, DNA evidence recovered from a straw linked Bilodeau to the crime, prompting hopes for justice from the victim's family.
MINEOLA, N.Y. — In a significant development four decades after the wrongful convictions of three men for the rape and murder of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, a new suspect has been indicted. Richard Bilodeau, 63, was arraigned on charges of murder stemming from the 1984 case. Theresa was last seen leaving her job at a roller-skating rink, and her body was discovered weeks later in a wooded area. The wrongful convictions were overturned in 2003 due to DNA evidence that was not available at the time of the crime, leading to substantial settlements for the exonerated men. Fusco's father expressed the ongoing pain of recalling his daughter's tragic death but found hope in the recent developments. Through the years, he maintained faith in the justice system. Bilodeau, who had been monitored by authorities, became the focus of the investigation last year when DNA from a straw he discarded matched DNA evidence from the original crime scene. If convicted, he could face a life sentence. The case has rekindled public interest due to the surrounding unsolved disappearances of other young girls from the area during the same period. District Attorney Anne Donnelly pledged to pursue justice for Theresa and her family, while Bilodeau's lawyer declined to comment after the arraignment. The community remains watchful for the next steps in the pursuit of justice for the long-buried case.
