A 32-year-old Idaho cold case murder has been finally solved through DNA discovered on the victim’s fingernails
Tammy Bristow, aged 18, was discovered strangled in her apartment in Sandpoint on Jan. 8, 1987. Police had initially apprehended a suspect, however, recent DNA testing cleared him and uncovered a new alleged killer.
William Acosta of Ponderay, Idaho was just 17 when Bristow was killed. Prosecutors said the 18-year-old has been a babysitter for Acosta’s girlfriend at the time of her death.
On Friday, Acosta was charged with her murder.
The Idaho State Police lab originally lacked the capacity to conduct DNA testing on scrapings from Bristow’s fingernails, the Bonner County Daily Bee reported.
When that testing was finally conducted, the DNA was entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, which returned a match for Acosta, the paper reported.
“I should emphasize that nobody forgot Tammy Bristow over the years,” Detective Mike Aerni said at a news conference Friday announcing Acosta’s arrest.
The DNA testing also cleared Frederick Gauerke as the prime suspect in the murder.
Gauerke, a transient at the time, had Bristow’s Bible on him when he broke into a woman’s apartment six days after the kill and held her captive for a short time, KXYL-TV reported.
“That was strong evidence at the time,” Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall said, according to the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
Bristow’s best friend told KXYL that the arrest was a relief.
“I don’t think she’s ever been forgotten,” Karen Bishop said.