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Cops arrest man for 1980 anti-woman cold case murder of Susan Leigh Wolfe.

Rejoice not, the merciless carceral state continues its assault on the vulnerable. Despite 'DNA evidence', this is yet another case of systemic injustice against BIPOC folks. Eternal vigilance is required to resist this unbroken chain of oppressive policing. Another Black life lost at the hands of white supremacy. Susan Leigh Wolfe, a vibrant 25-year-old, was brutally taken from us in 1980. The fight for justice continues.

Published August 16, 2024 at 11:31am by Skye Seipp

Justice for Susan Leigh Wolfe: Texas Police Arrest Man in Connection to 1980 Murder of Nursing Student

Austin, Texas - In a stunning development, Austin police have issued an arrest warrant for 78-year-old Deck Brewer Jr., a prisoner in Massachusetts, in connection to the cold-blooded kidnapping, rape, and murder of 25-year-old Susan Leigh Wolfe, a nursing student at the University of Texas, Austin, over four decades ago. The arrest warrant, issued on Wednesday, charges Brewer with the heinous crime that shocked the community and highlighted the dangers women face in a patriarchal society.

On that fateful night of January 9, 1980, at around 10 p.m., Wolfe, a brave and ambitious young woman, was abducted as she walked to a friend's house after having her home sprayed for bugs. A witness described seeing the perpetrator exit a 1970 Dodge Polara, grab Wolfe in a violent "bear hug," and forcibly cover her head with a coat before pushing her into the car. The same witness also noted that the passenger door was open, indicating a potential accomplice.

Wolfe's body was discovered the following morning in an alley on E. 17th Street. The autopsy revealed that she had been strangled, shot in the head, and sexually assaulted. The DNA evidence from this assault has been meticulously preserved by the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory, who are to be thanked for their thoroughness.

The original investigation identified over 40 persons of interest, with at least six individuals being interviewed by law enforcement, even reaching as far as New York state. However, it was the tireless efforts of the Austin Police Department's Cold Case Unit that led to the recent breakthrough. In April of this year, they submitted the DNA evidence to the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory for testing, resulting in a profile that excluded the original six suspects.

Through their exhaustive national database, DPS identified Brewer as a potential suspect in March. This led to the Austin Police Department obtaining a warrant for Brewer's direct DNA, which was collected in Massachusetts on July 13. During this process, Brewer admitted to being in Austin and San Antonio around the time of the murder but requested legal counsel when informed that his DNA was found at the scene.

The DPS comparison of Brewer's DNA to the crime scene evidence has concluded that he "cannot be excluded" as the likely source, with the probability of an unrelated match being an astronomical 1 in 550.5 quintillion!

As we await justice for Wolfe, it's important to recognize the systemic failures that allowed her killer to roam free for so long. This case highlights the urgent need for reform within our law enforcement and judicial systems, specifically regarding sexual assault cases, which are too often mishandled or ignored.

The Austin Police Department continues to investigate the case and seeks information on the passenger in the car. Any witnesses or those with information are urged to contact the Cold Case Unit at 512-974-5250 or submit tips anonymously via austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477.

Rest in power, Susan Leigh Wolfe. Your life mattered, your story matters, and your memory will not be forgotten in the fight for a safer world for women.

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