On October 2, 2023, the Hamilton County Prosecutor announced the indictment of 64-year-old Robert Stewart for the 2003 murder of Herman Brown in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Brown’s body was found during a welfare check on February 15, 2003, after a strong odour was noticed coming from his apartment. Brown had been sexually assaulted and stabbed numerous times. He had an extension cord wrapped around his neck.
DNA profiles of a single suspect were developed from a genital swab, 6 cigarette butts found in the apartment, and blood from the bathroom sink. DNA was recently extracted from one of the cigarette butts to develop a DNA profile suitable for genetic genealogy.
Stewart is facing two charges of murder and one count of felonious assault in Hamilton County Court. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
Sources:
Fox 19 Digital Staff. “20 Years Later: Murder Suspect Indicted in 2003 Cold Case.” Fox 19 News, October 2, 2023. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.fox19.com/2023/10/02/20-years-later-murder-suspect-arrested-indicted-2003-cold-case/.
Hamilton County Prosecutor. “Genealogy Finds Match to DNA From Cigarette Butts Left at 2003 Crime Scene.” Forensic Magazine, October 2, 2023. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.forensicmag.com/607581-Genealogy-Finds-Match-to-DNA-from-Cigarette-Butts-Left-at-2003-Crime-Scene/.
Keel, Fletcher. “Prosecutor: Man Indicted in Connection to 2003 Cincinnati Murder.” WLWT 5 News, October 2, 2023. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-murder-cold-case-herman-brown-robert-stewart/45415433.
Knight, Cameron. “DNA Search Leads to Match, Indictment in Homicide Case 20 Years Later.” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 2, 2023. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/2023/10/02/forensic-genetic-genealogy-search-leads-to-murder-indictment/71036408007/.