Chicago Police Identified 1960 Murderer
Investigators linked the cold case murder of an 8-year-old girl to a former Chicago police officer.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Chicago authorities identified Thomas F. McInerney Jr. as the person who abducted and killed 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz on November 12, 1960. The identification follows decades of investigation into the cold case.
Why it matters
The identification provides answers to a 65-year-old cold case that has remained unsolved since Kowalewicz was killed. It also highlights the efficacy of modern forensic technology in resolving decades-old crimes.
The identification of Thomas F. McInerney Jr. was confirmed using preserved fingerprints and DNA samples matched via genetic genealogy research. The suspect was a Chicago Police Department officer for 28 years until his retirement in 1987.
The players
Gloria Kowalewicz
She was an 8-year-old victim of a kidnapping and murder in Chicago in 1960.
Thomas F. McInerney Jr.
He was a former Chicago Police Department officer identified as the perpetrator of the 1960 crime.
Chicago Police Department
This is the law enforcement agency that employed the suspect and investigated the cold case.
FBI
The federal agency is currently checking national criminal databases for other potential victims.
The details
Gloria Kowalewicz was discovered to have been shot twice in the head after her abduction. Investigators developed a male DNA profile in 2010 and later utilized genetic samples from family tree websites in 2024 to confirm the identity of McInerney, who died in 2006.
Timeline
November 12, 1960: Gloria Kowalewicz was abducted and murdered in Chicago.
1987: Thomas F. McInerney Jr. retired from the Chicago Police Department.
2006: Thomas F. McInerney Jr. died in Las Vegas.
2010: Investigators successfully developed a male DNA profile from the crime scene.
2024: The FBI matched the crime scene DNA to Thomas F. McInerney Jr.
Legal Context
This case follows a pattern set by the use of genetic genealogy to solve the Golden State Killer case by utilizing consumer DNA databases. Such techniques have increasingly allowed investigators to close decades-old cold cases that were previously hindered by limited physical evidence.
The identification of a former officer as a long-sought killer may prompt calls for increased transparency and review of historical cold cases involving police personnel. Residents in the area may see further investigative activity as the FBI continues to review national databases for potential additional victims.
The takeaway
This case serves as a reminder that forensic technology can provide closure to families decades after a tragedy occurred. It also underscores the importance of ongoing investigations into cold cases as new DNA matching tools become available to law enforcement.
Further reading
For more on how authorities process cold cases, visit Law Enforcement.
