Man Finally Arrested for 1980 Murder; Only Took 43 Years

Well, well, well, look who's finally decided to solve a cold case. Charles Wolfe had pretty much given up hope that anyone would ever answer for his sister's murder back in 1980. But lo and behold, last week, her face popped up on TV with a big ol' "break in the case" announcement. Surprise, surprise!

"We were astonished, jubilant, of course, shocked and surprised to see my sister on the television screen for the first time in decades," said 60-year-old Wolfe from his mom's basement in Leander.

So, who's the lucky culprit? Meet 78-year-old Deck Brewer Jr., currently chillin' in a Massachusetts prison for some other nasty business. Austin PD says DNA evidence ties him to Susan Leigh Wolfe's abduction, rape, and murder.

They filed an arrest warrant and everything, but don't hold your breath for a quick trial. Massachusetts won't extradite him until his current sentence ends on Aug. 28. Guess they're not in any rush. Meanwhile, the Travis County DA and sheriff will figure out the prisoner transport. Maybe they'll use Uber.

Oh, and where is Brewer currently locked up? Why, the Massachusetts Treatment Center, of course! A lovely medium-security spot for sex offenders and other creeps.

Now, you might be wondering, "What did Brewer do to land in there?" Well, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections told the Statesman to buzz off and ask the Middlesex County DA. And guess what? They didn't respond. Shocking, right?

And get this: Austin PD wouldn't even let their lead detective talk to the press. Probably too busy patting themselves on the back for finally doing their job.

She Was Someone, Alright

Susan Wolfe was your typical 25-year-old in 1980, getting ready to study nursing at UT. She worked at the Austin State Hospital and was a real "prototype hippie," according to her brother.

"Susan was bubbly," Charles Wolfe said. "She was not a materialistic person; she didn't even own a car. ... She loved to help people."

Yeah, because only poor people can be good, right? Anyway, she biked and walked everywhere, and Charles had warned her about the dangers. But did she listen? Nope.

Her dad, Thomas Wolfe, even spoke to the Statesman back in 1980 about her great potential. Well, that's all gone now, isn't it?

Justice? What's That?

On Jan. 9, 1980, Susan was abducted near 200 Franklin Blvd. while walking to a friend's house. A witness saw the whole thing, and police later hypnotized him to get a better description of the car. They even suspected Henry Lee Lucas at one point. Remember him, "The Confession Killer"?

Over the years, more than 30 investigators worked on the case, and they interviewed a bunch of people. But did they find the killer? No. Until now, that is.

Charles Wolfe is upset police didn't contact him directly, but he's happy one person will be brought to trial. "We have cautious optimism," he said. "We just want to make sure she gets the justice she deserves."

Yeah, because "justice" totally makes up for 43 years of waiting.

Anyway, if you've got any info about Susan Wolfe's killing, call the cold case unit at 512-974-5250 or submit tips anonymously at austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. Not that they'll do anything about it.