“DEFINITELY AN UNNATURAL death,” the coroner told Detective Miller the following morning. “Strangulation. In addition to the very deep bruising almost all the way around Ms. Williams’ neck, there was petechial hemorrhaging in her eyes. We put a light source on the bruises, and I think we can lift a print or two. I’ll be back in touch about that.”
“Thanks, Doc. Keep me posted.”
The coroner was indeed able to lift a partial fingerprint as he suspected. He set the search in motion to try to find a match in several databases – to no avail. The killer’s identity remained elusive.
***
* * * *
BY THE TIME THE NEW Year arrived, the Edward Baker case and the hunt for Stella William’s murderer had each reached an impasse, headed for ‘cold case’ status.
