Cold case cracked after 53 years in US: DNA leads to accused

By Sagaya Fernando | April 20, 2025

 

INDIANA, USA – More than five decades after the brutal killing of a young mother shocked the community, authorities in Indiana have finally identified a suspect in the 1972 cold case, bringing long-awaited closure to the victim’s family.

Indiana, a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States, was the scene of a tragic mystery that remained unsolved for 53 years. On the evening of July 7, 1972, Phyllis Bailer, 26, was traveling from Indianapolis to Bluffton with her three-year-old daughter to visit her parents. When they failed to arrive, her concerned family contacted authorities.

The next morning, Bailer's abandoned car was discovered with the hood propped open on a highway in Grant County. Approximately an hour later, a passer-by in neighbouring Allen County found Phyllis Bailer and her young daughter in a roadside ditch. Bailer had been fatally shot and sexually assaulted, while her daughter was found unharmed, according to the Indiana State Police (ISP).

Despite extensive efforts by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and the ISP, the case went cold due to the limited forensic technology available at the time. DNA testing, which was not introduced in law enforcement investigations until the early 1990s, became a key tool decades later. A partial DNA profile was eventually developed from Bailer's clothing, but it initially failed to lead to a breakthrough.

However, advancements in forensic science reinvigorated the investigation. In 2024, ISP’s Cold Case Team extracted a more robust DNA profile from the same evidence. This new sample was sent to Identifiers International, a California-based forensic genealogy firm. Using a combination of genealogical data and investigative resources, the team made a pivotal discovery in early 2025.

The suspect was identified as Fred Allen Lienemann, who was 25 years old at the time of the murder. Authorities confirmed his DNA was a match for the sample found on Bailer’s clothing. There is no known relationship between Bailer and Lienemann. According to law enforcement records, Lienemann had an extensive criminal history, including a first-degree murder charge in May 1985.

However, justice in the traditional sense will not be served. Lienemann was murdered in Detroit later that same year. The Allen County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that if he were alive today, he would have faced charges in connection with Bailer's death.

"Phyllis Bailer never made it to Bluffton to visit her family," said Sergeant Wes Rowlander, public information officer for the Indiana State Police, in a statement on social media. "After years of questions, this family finally has answers about what happened to her."

The resolution of this cold case stands as a testament to the power of modern forensic science, determination of cold case teams, and the enduring pursuit of justice—no matter how many years have passed.