LENNON, MI -- DNA evidence placed the man who has been charged in the 1997 death of 88-year-old Mary Prieur at the scene of the crime, according to Genesee County law enforcement officials.
Michael Bur, 41, of Lennon has been charged with single counts of felony murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping in the death of Prieur.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announced the charges Thursday, Nov. 11.
At a Wednesday, Nov. 17 news conference, he offered some additional details on the case.
He said testing of biological material led to Burs arrest.
Related: Suspect arrested in 1997 cold case murder of 88-year-old Lennon woman
Prieurs body was found around 2 p.m. Feb. 27, 1997, in the area of Lennon Road and M-13.
Her brother-in-law called police around noon that day after finding the door to Prieurs residence ajar and the dog inside, but no signs of Prieur, according to Flint Journal records.
Michigan State Police canine teams taking part in training in the area responded to the scene. A trooper and K-9 officer spotted her body, wrapped in a blanket, roughly two hours after her disappearance was first reported.
An autopsy revealed Prieur had been suffocated and beaten in the head.
Over the years, billboards have gone up and door hangers placed on homes in the community, as well as police finding DNA that confirmed Prieur was sexually assaulted prior to her death.
One billboard featuring a photo of Prieur read Do you know who killed me!
Signs didnt solve this, but science solved this, Swanson said Wednesday.
Swanson was assigned Prieurs case in 2002 when he was a captain at the sheriffs office.
Investigators collected and stored biological material at the time of Prieurs death, Swanson said. Over the years technology advanced and eventually was able to match that material with Burs DNA and place him at the scene of the crime.
Biological material collected is a 1 in 1.9 octillion match for Bur, Swanson said.
Thats 26 zeros for that guy, Swanson said, pointing at a mugshot of Bur.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said it is important to remember a suspect is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.
I think its a proper statement for me to tell you that we have that DNA evidence, Leyton said. We have evidence that I am convinced comes from the victim, comes from the accused, match up and, in fact, we will be able to present that in a courtroom.
The prosecutor noted foundational evidence is also needed to prove the evidence was taken and tested appropriately.
I believe we have probable cause and beyond a reasonable doubt that we can get there, he said.
Drag marks from the home down to the creek where the victim was found can also be used as evidence, Leyton said. A witness gave a statement a few years ago as well and is still available to testify today.
That is the evidence that was presented to me that I feel, within the bounds of ethics, that I can share with you today that led me to write my name on this warrant, charging this man with these heinous crimes. Well do the rest of our talking in court.
Ultimately, officials want closure for Prieurs family, Leyton said.
Swanson and Leyton thanked Michigan State Police Crime Lab investigators.
These folks are key players in the criminal justice system, Leyton said.
Technological advances helped get investigators to the point where charges could be filed in this case, MSP Lt. Kimberly Vetter said.
Vetter thanked the multiple departments involved in the investigation.
Co-operations between departments is critical to the success of all of us, she said.
Prieur was known as a staple in the Lennon community who was often seen walking her dog Pookie while on the way to grab some food at a local bar, according to prior reporting.
She was a regular attendee at multiple churches including St. Marys in Swartz Creek and St. Robert in Flushing.
Related: Murder of 88-year-old Lennon woman remains unsolved 21 years later
Community members rallied after Prieurs murder, putting together a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the responsible person or persons.
The money was eventually returned to those who donated after no arrest took place within a few months time.
A native of Czechoslovakia, Prieur came to the United States when she was eight years old, according to Journal records.
Prieur opened the candy business Sweet Maries after adding onto the house at Chippewa and Louisa streets in Flint she shared with her husband James.
James Prieur told The Flint Journal for a March 1997 story that his wife learned to make candy in Owosso, where she was a student at St. Pauls until dropping out in eighth grade to help put her sister and brother through school.
She was just the sweetest, kindest lady, said Gloria Schram, Prieurs neighbor, in a February 2012 Flint Journal story.
Bur is being held in the Genesee County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear Nov. 24 for a probable cause conference Nov. 24 in front of Genesee District Court Judge William H. Crawford.
Read more on MLive:
Jury finds Michigan man guilty of murder in overdose death of wife after cereal poisoned with heroin
Man killed in afternoon stabbing in Flint
Flint police helicopter has patrolled four times since October launch
When will I feel safe enough to go to a doctors office? Sexual assault victims speak out at sentencing of former chiropractor
Drug-free breast milk led to ruling Michigan womans death a homicide, medical examiner says
Suspect arrested in 1997 cold case murder of 88-year-old Lennon woman
See the article here:
Science solved this. Sheriff says DNA led to arrest in 88-year-old Lennon womans cold case murder - mlive.com
- Joel Embiid finally discovers he has the DNA of a champion. Down 2-1, can he lead the Sixers past the Knicks? - The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Unraveling DNA's role in pop culturefrom superheroes to crime scenes - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Elucidation of inhibitory effects of bioactive anthraquinones towards formation of DNA advanced glycation end products ... - ScienceDirect.com - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA Testing Proved My Innocence of My Son's Murder - Innocence Project - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Generative A.I. Arrives in the Gene Editing World of CRISPR - The New York Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Persistent TFIIH binding to non-excised DNA damage causes cell and developmental failure - Nature.com - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Enhanced CRISPR method enables stable insertion of large genes into the DNA of higher plants - Phys.org - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Scientists inspired the right guardrails for nuclear energy, the internet, and DNA research. Let them do the same for AI - Fortune - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Test your dog's DNA to learn about their heritage and health for only $120 - New York Post - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Earth Life Biodiversity: Vast DNA Tree Of life For Flowering Plants Revealed - Astrobiology - Astrobiology News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise Share Some Very Stylish DNA - Vogue - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA evidence leads to arrest of 75-year-old Auburn man - Opelika Auburn News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Putnam NY cold case: DNA test finds skeleton is not Robin Murphy's - The Journal News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ancient nomads you've probably never heard of disappeared from Europe 1,000 years ago. Now, DNA analysis ... - The Conversation - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Genetics Studies Have a Diversity Problem That Researchers Struggle To Fix - Kaiser Health News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Keeping Telomeres in Their Places - The Scientist - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- WWII veteran Ward Thomas identified through genealogy testing - 10TV - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Vast DNA tree of life for plants revealed by global science team using 1.8 billion letters of genetic code - Phys.org - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Here is a look at one of the labs that helped uncover new DNA evidence in Lake Oconee murder - WSB Atlanta - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- This Guardians prospect has baseball in his DNA - 1330 WFIN - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA identifies last known remains of victims of notorious Green River Killer, cops say - Miami Herald - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- UNE to study why rare lobsters have strange-colored shells - Spectrum News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA evidence identifies last known victim of Green River Killer almost 40 years later - NBC Right Now - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- New bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNA - CBS News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Lucas County Sheriff's Office doing advanced testing on DNA found at site of 2011 Clarke and Straub murders - WTOL - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Last known remains connected to the Green River Killer identified through DNA | WTGS - Fox28 Savannah - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 5 Best Ancestry DNA Tests 2024 To Help You Learn More About Your Health - GLAMOUR UK - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 11 Investigates: Lucas County Sheriff's Office doing advanced testing on DNA found at site of 2011 Clarke and Straub murders - WTOL - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Researchers improve blood tests' ability to detect and monitor cancer - MIT News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA test approved for Duxbury's Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her 3 children - The Patriot Ledger - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 1,650th victim of 9/11 identified through advanced DNA testing - FOX 17 West Michigan News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- We Think Cavco Industries (NASDAQ:CVCO) Might Have The DNA Of A Multi-Bagger - Yahoo Finance - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA From the Ocean's 'Twilight Zone' Could Lead to New Lifesaving Drugs, Scientists Say - Smithsonian Magazine - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Last known remains connected to the Green River Killer identified through DNA - KOMO News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 9/11 victim identified as John Ballantine Niven of Oyster Bay with help of DNA technology - WABC-TV - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Scott Peterson has every right to DNA test: Attorney from case - NewsNation Now - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA from stone age chewing gum sheds light on diet and disease in Scandinavia's ancient hunter-gatherers - The Conversation - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Barbara Lee responds to Nikki Haley: Racism is in the DNA of this country - The Hill - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DB Cooper 'will finally be identified' after 53 years due to huge DNA breakthrough - LADbible - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Dog Owners Who Abandon Poops To Be Found Using DNA Tests in Italy - Newsweek - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Scientists gather bobcat DNA from paw prints - KJZZ - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Discovering Fusions Requires More Than DNA Testing in GI Cancers - OncLive - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Largest-ever ocean DNA study uncovers mysteries of marine life - Earth.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- 1st-ever ancient case of Turner syndrome, with just 1 X chromosome instead of 2, found in ancient DNA - Livescience.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Minnesota Mother Calls on NYS to Allow DNA Testing Finger Lakes Daily News - Finger Lakes Daily News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA Didn't Match Marcellus Williams. Missouri May Fast-Track Execution Anyway. - The Intercept - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA From Eurasian Herders Sheds Light on the Origins of Multiple Sclerosis - Smithsonian Magazine - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA's hotel toh kuyabeh mirrors bird flight undulations in tulum - Designboom - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Research into ancient DNA sheds new light on cause of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases - University of Oxford - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - University of Cambridge news - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- TIME-seq reduces time and cost of DNA methylation measurement for epigenetic clock construction - Nature.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Gilgo Serial Killer Suspect Rex Heuermann Tied to Slaying by DNA From Daughter's Can of Coffee: Prosecutors - The Messenger - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA evidence leads to arrest of Denton sexual assault suspect - The Cross Timbers Gazette - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - EurekAlert - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- New technique identifies earliest cases of genetic disorders from ancient DNA - University of Oxford - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA could be hiding all kinds of health secrets - Deccan Herald - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - ScienceBlog.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Supreme Court seeks government's view on DNA profiling of unidentified bodies - IndiaTimes - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Prosecution Ordered to Release Portion of DNA Evidence to Kohberger's Defense Team - bigcountrynewsconnection.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Judge orders more DNA disclosure in University of Idaho murder case - KXLY Spokane - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Cas9-induced targeted integration of large DNA payloads in primary human T cells via homology-mediated end-joining ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- The DNA glycosylase NEIL2 is protective during SARS-CoV-2 infection - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- How an immune response is driven by one letter difference in DNA - Medical Xpress - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Discovered He Was Related to Nas After DNA Test - PEOPLE - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Scientists testify about DNA in third week of Aguirre trial - The Spokesman Review - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA metabarcoding focusing on the plankton community: an effective approach to reconstruct the paleo-environment ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Advancement in DNA Technology and Tenacity of Cold Case Detective Identifies Victim in 37-year-old Homicide - hellowoodlands.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Integrating DNA methylation and gene expression data in a single gene network using the iNETgrate package ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Forensic scientist testifies about evidence contamination at state lab in 1986, says knowledge of DNA has since ... - The Spokesman Review - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Discovers He Is Related To Nas Through DNA Test - BET - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA discovery opens door to tailored medicine for Indigenous Australians | Australian National University - ANU - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Started Crying After Learning Hes Related To Nas Through A DNA Test - TODAY - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Electric eel zaps do more than just stun they can alter the DNA of their victims, study suggests - Salon - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Blueface Says He Took a DNA Test That Proves He's Not the Father of Chrisean Rock's Son: 'Thank You Jesus' - Complex - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Altina Wildlife Park to use DNA tests to find mystery father of black-and-white ruffed lemur triplets - ABC News - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- In the Shadow of Rome: Ancient DNA Recasts Balkan History - SciTechDaily - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Even microbes felt the impact of ancient climate transitions, McMaster DNA researchers find - Brighter World - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Clarence 'Red' Wilson cold case murder: DNA helps Montgomery County detective break 37-year unsolved Texas homicide - KTRK-TV - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- How Construction Companies Can Make Diversity Part of Their DNA - For Construction Pros - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA analysis of bat droppings shows astonishingly high number of insect species - Phys.org - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]