Unveiled at a press conference, Sheriff Gregory Toney identified the victim as Erin Troupner and the perpetrator as 64-year-old Lucis Boyd. Boyd, who was sentenced to death for a murder committed two weeks prior to Troupner's demise, was implicated by the sheriff's office in a press statement.
According to a May press release, a boater discovered Troupner's corpse in southwestern Broward County near US-27 in December 1998. Investigators used DNA found at the crime scene to reach out to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's genealogy department. DNA samples were obtained from Troupner's relatives for comparison.
Boyd was suspected in multiple other murders, according to reports. The sheriff's office is seeking information from anyone who may have interacted with him between 1995 and 1999.
"We believe he's a serial killer," Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Jonathan Brown stated.
This is the 21st unsolved case since the establishment of the Broward Sheriff's Homicide Cold Case Unit in 2019.
"If you commit a crime, a heinous murder or rape, whether it was 20 years ago or tomorrow, we will find you and take you into custody," Tony said.
"It's an open wound, and it hurts as if it was yesterday," Troupner's sister Nancy commented.
In November, a grand jury indicted Boyd on first-degree murder and sexual assault charges in connection with Troupner's death.
The Broward County Public Defender's Office was approached by CNN for a comment.
Enrichment Data:
The specific DNA analysis techniques employed in the Troupner-Boyd case were not detailed in the search results. However, DNA evidence is frequently utilized in forensic investigations using methods such as direct comparison, genetic genealogy, and Y-STR analysis.
Direct comparison involves using PCR to match DNA samples from the crime scene and the suspect. Genetic genealogy involves comparing crime scene DNA profiles to publicly available genetic genealogy databases, which can help identify potential relatives of the suspect. Y-chromosomal Short Tandem Repeat (Y-STR) analysis is useful for identifying male suspects through comparisons of Y-STR profiles from the crime scene and genetic genealogy databases.
Again, without access to specific case files or official reports, it remains unclear which methods were used in the Troupner-Boyd investigation.
