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A sick murderer who killed four women has finally been unmasked more than 40 years after his death.
DNA evidence from the remains of Joe Ervin, who took his own life in prison in 1981, murdered Dolores Barajas, 53; Madeleine Furey-Livaudais, 33; Gwendolyn Harris, 27; and Antoinette Parks, 17.
All were killed between 1978 and 1981 in and around Denver, Colorado, but it wasn’t until 2018 that they were all connected by investigators.
He was in jail accused of fatally shooting a police officer when he took his own life.
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen told reporters: “While the perpetrator cannot fully be held accountable for his despicable actions, we hope that knowing who is responsible can bring some peace to the families.”
Officers carrying out DNA analysis were able to identify the killer’s profile, eventually identifying Ervin.
His remains were exhumed late last year and this month police were able to confirm he was the killer, CNN reports.
George Journey, brother of youngest victim Antoinette Parks – who was pregnant at the time of her death – said his mum and three sisters had died in the years since the murder and he wished they could see the killer identified.
He said: “We can finally have peace knowing who did this to my little sister. I’d like you guys to know, we have closure.”
Ervin was being held for the crime of shooting and killing Aurora police officer Debra Sue Corr, who was handcuffing him during a traffic stop.
Molly Livaudais, daughter of Madeleine Furey-Livaudais, said it was “a lot of information to absorb so suddenly after all this time”.
She praised the murdered police officer, saying: “With her sacrifice, she prevented him from killing anyone else, and it’s clear that he wasn’t going to stop on his own.”
Glenn Spies, who was also shot by Ervin when he was trying to help Ms Corr, told CBS Denver : “I got the calls this morning.
“It was kind of a shock because I didn’t know he had more victims.
“Now the people that have been affected by it can be at rest.”
