Hans Huitz was identified as the lead suspect in the March 22, 1992 robbery and murder of 57-year-old James Essel in Comus, Maryland. Essel was the owner of the Sugarloaf Mountain Market in Comus, when his store was robbed by an unknown assailant. Essel was stabbed 29 times. Police obtained a DNA profile of the suspect from a trail of blood he left at the scene.
There is no data on who performed the FGG investigation.
Police approached Huitz in his vehicle on February 12, 2020 with a warrant for his arrest on charges of first-degree murder and robbery. Huitz was shot and killed by police when he pulled a gun on Montgomery County PD and US Marshalls. Huitz was 51 years old.
Sources:
Associated Press. “Police: DNA, Genealogy Tests Linked Suspect to 1992 Killing in Maryland.” Baltimore Sun, February 17, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-cr-tests-linked-suspect-to-1992-killing-20200217-ncliov2gfvhbnimxbxvupzpada-story.html.
David, Madeline. “Man Killed in Virginia Beach by Maryland Police Was Wanted for 1992 Murder.” 13 News Now, February 13, 2020, last modified February 14, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/virginia-beach/police-identify-man-killed-by-maryland-police-in-virginia-beach/291-46895592-d6e8-44d1-a779-e30cd30b6e54.
David, Madeline. “Wife of Virginia Beach Man Killed by Cold Case Officers Speaks Out.” 13 News Now, February 19, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/wife-of-virginia-beach-man-killed-by-cold-case-officers-speaks-out/291-d42738b6-512f-473a-99ee-26dca2c3a374.