After years of investigation and advancements in DNA technology, the Nassau County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday, October 15th, that a 63-year-old man named Richard Bilodeau is a suspect in the 1984 murder case of a 16-year-old girl that occurred on Long Island, finally solving a decades-long mystery.
According to prosecutors, on November 10, 1984, 16-year-old Theresa Fusco disappeared after leaving work at the Lynbrook Ice Rink on Long Island. Her naked body was found in a wooded area on December 5 of the same year, showing signs of severe injuries including beating, strangulation, and sexual assault.
Prior to Bilodeau’s arrest, three local men – John Restivo, Dennis Halstead, and John Kogut – were accused and convicted of the crime in 1986. However, with the advancement of DNA technology, the three men were later cleared of suspicion and released in 2003 after serving 18 years in prison. They subsequently sued the government and were awarded approximately $43 million in compensation.
The breakthrough in this case came from the DNA sample collected from the girl’s body at the time of the crime. Interestingly, investigators also found DNA samples matching Bilodeau’s DNA in a milkshake cup and straw discarded at the crime scene, serving as crucial evidence linking him to the scene.
Reportedly, the accused was working the night shift at a Walmart warehouse in Suffolk County, not far from the crime scene at the time. When asked if he knew the victim, he denied knowing her and shockingly remarked, “Back then, killers could get away with it.”
Bilodeau has been formally charged in court with second-degree murder-related charges and pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. Prosecutors stated that he had been under investigation since 2024. The judge ruled him ineligible for bail and ordered him to remain in custody until the next court date on November 21.
On the day of the hearing, the victim’s father, Thomas Fusco, was emotional outside the courtroom, tightly embracing loved ones and quietly expressing relief that they can now go home and move forward with their lives.
For the long-awaiting and disappointed family of the victim, justice may have been delayed, but it has finally arrived, reassuring them that it was not absent after all.