"MINEOLA, N.Y. - Four decades after prosecutors sent the wrong men to prison for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old Long Island girl, DNA obtained from a discarded straw has led to the indictment of a new suspect. Richard Bilodeau, 63, of Center Moriches, was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of murder in the death of Theresa Fusco. The high school junior disappeared after leaving her part-time job at a Lynbrook roller-skating rink in November 1984."
"Her nude body was found weeks after the assault, buried under leaves in a wooded area near the rink. Three men were convicted in the killing and served several years in prison before they were exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003. They sued for wrongful imprisonment, and two were each awarded $18 million. Fusco's father, Thomas, was among those in the Mineola court as Bilodeau pleaded not guilty and was remanded to the county jail. After the hearing, he said it was "heartbreaking" to relive her daughter's death "over and over again" but expressed hope that the arrest was a "finalization" in the ordeal. "I loved her and I miss her. She lives in my heart, as you can see," Fusco said as he produced a photo of Theresa from his jacket pocket during a news conference with prosecutors. "I never gave up hope. I've always had faith in the system.""
A 16-year-old high school junior, Theresa Fusco, disappeared after leaving her job at a Lynbrook roller-skating rink in November 1984; her nude body was later found buried in leaves near the rink. Three men were convicted and served years in prison before DNA exonerated them in 2003, and two later received $18 million each for wrongful imprisonment. Investigators developed new leads and in February 2024 recovered a discarded cup and straw; DNA from the straw matched a sample taken from Fusco in 1984. Richard Bilodeau, now 63, was arraigned on two counts of murder, pleaded not guilty, was remanded to jail, and faces up to 25 years to life. Fusco's father expressed heartbreak over reliving the loss and hope that the arrest would bring finalization.
Read at Newsday
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