Arrest Warrant Issued in 44-Year-Old Cold Case

Austin police have issued an arrest warrant for 78-year-old Deck Brewer Jr. in connection with the 1980 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 25-year-old nursing student Susan Leigh Wolfe. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/arrest-warrant-issued-connection-44-year-old-cold-case-n2609763

On the evening of January 9, 1980, Wolfe was abducted while walking to a friend's house. A witness described seeing the driver of a 1970 Dodge Polara exit the vehicle, force Wolfe into the car, and cover her head with a coat. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/cold-case-crew-crew-helps-identify-austin-womans-killer-44-years-after-her-death/

Wolfe's body was found the next morning in an alley. She had been strangled, shot in the head, and sexually assaulted. Over 40 people were identified as persons of interest, but the case went cold.

In April 2023, Austin Police sent DNA evidence from the sexual assault to the Texas DPS Crime Lab. The DNA profile excluded the original six suspects and led investigators to Brewer, who was already imprisoned in Massachusetts for an unrelated crime. https://www.statesman.com/news/20230804/suspect-named-in-austin-cold-case-woman-kidnapped-raped-killed-in-1980-slaying

Austin detectives obtained a direct DNA sample from Brewer in July, which confirmed the match. When confronted, Brewer admitted to being in the Austin area at the time of the killing and requested a lawyer when told his DNA was found at the scene.

The probability of the DNA belonging to someone other than Brewer is 1 in 550.5 quintillion, according to the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory.

The investigation remains active as authorities work to identify an accomplice. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Austin Police Cold Case Unit or submit tips anonymously via the links below:

• https://austincrimestoppers.org
• https://www.austintexas.gov/department/police/cold-case-homicide