Wisconsin Cold Case: DNA Breakthrough Solves Gruesome 1963 Gas Station Murder!
After 61 years, a shocking DNA breakthrough finally unmasks the killer behind the brutal 1963 gas station slaying in Wisconsin! 🕵️♂️ #News #Wisconsin #TrueCrime
Justice Prevails in Famous Wisconsin Cold Case!
GREEN BAY, WI – More than fifty years after a man was brutally murdered at a gas station in Wisconsin, authorities believe they have finally identified his killer. Advanced forensic testing on DNA samples from the crime scene has led detectives to a suspect, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office announced.
The Crime Scene
On June 12, 1963, Wayne Pratt was found dead inside an Enco gas station along U.S. Highway 41 in Winnebago, about 60 miles southwest of Green Bay. His wife, Marie Pratt, discovered his body in the back room of the station, covered with a blanket and suffering from 53 stab wounds.
Wayne Pratt, only 24 years old, operated the gas station. According to CBS affiliate WFRV, Marie Pratt recalled that her husband had been at home watching TV on the night of the murder.
He went outside to assist a customer at the gas station around 8:40 p.m. Marie noticed the station’s lights were off and went to check on him, discovering the gruesome scene.
Early Investigation and Challenges
Evidence suggested that the attacker might have been injured during the incident, as the sheriff’s office found traces of another person’s blood at the scene. Despite this, the initial investigation led nowhere, and by 1968, the case went cold.
Reopening the Case
The case was reopened in 2011, with investigators seeking new leads through advanced DNA analysis.
In 2015, Sorenson Forensics found DNA mixtures on the blanket covering Wayne Pratt’s body. However, the mixed DNA composition initially prevented authorities from entering the data into criminal databases.
Breakthrough and Suspect Identification
A significant breakthrough came three years later when a warrant was issued for the arrest of William Doxtator, an 82-year-old man from Bowler, Wisconsin. Doxtator had been a suspect shortly after the murder and was linked to the case through tips received in 1968 and 2022.
This year, the company Cybergenetics developed a DNA profile from the mixture found on the blanket.
This evidence was sufficient for the Winnebago District Attorney to charge Doxtator with first-degree intentional homicide. Unfortunately, Doxtator passed away in 2022.
Official Statement
Winnebago County District Attorney Eric Sparr confirmed the evidence was strong enough to pursue a homicide charge if Doxtator were still alive.
“The Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the reports generated by this investigation. I agree there would be sufficient evidence to support a factual basis and probable cause to pursue a homicide charge if William Doxtator were alive today,” Sparr said in a statement.
The District Attorney’s Office commended the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication to solving this case, providing closure for the families affected by this long-unsolved murder.
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