On July 20, 1971, at around 1:30 am, 24-year-old Rita Curran was found dead in her bedroom. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten in the head, and strangled. It was estimated that Rita was killed at around midnight on July 19. For decades, Rita’s murder went unsolved. Then, in February 2023, a DNA match led detectives to Rita’s killer: William DeRoos. 

Research by Haley Gray with Haley Gray Research. 


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 Sources: 



https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/28/police-say-modern-techniques-reviving-1971-vermont/

https://vsp.vermont.gov/unsolved/homicide/curran

https://www.news10.com/news/mystery-in-the-mountains-rita-currans-murder-is-burlington-vermonts-oldest-cold-case/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/63033862/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/464318971/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/663517823/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/610589637/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

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https://www.newspapers.com/image/199886926/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

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https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79371445/bundy-rita-curran-6/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/200336836/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/200253862/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/199818572/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/200255617/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/199648191/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/428506454/?terms=rita%20curran&match=1


The remaining sources can be found at Moms and Mysteries
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