
In a dramatic conclusion to one of Maryland's longest-running cold cases, Eugene Gligor has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal 1976 murder of 19-year-old Nadine O'Dea.
The 68-year-old showed no emotion as Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David Lease delivered the sentence, finally bringing justice for a crime that remained unsolved for nearly five decades.
The Crime That Shook a Community
Nadine O'Dea, a vibrant young woman working at a local restaurant, was found brutally murdered in her North Bethesda apartment on November 21st, 1976. The crime scene revealed a violent struggle, with O'Dea having been stabbed multiple times and sexually assaulted.
Despite an extensive investigation at the time, the case grew cold as leads dried up and forensic technology of the era couldn't identify the perpetrator.
Breakthrough Through Genetic Genealogy
The case saw a remarkable breakthrough in 2021 when investigators employed cutting-edge genetic genealogy techniques. Using DNA evidence preserved from the original crime scene, forensic experts created a genetic profile that led them to Gligor through family DNA databases.
This innovative approach, which has solved numerous cold cases nationwide, finally provided the crucial link that had eluded detectives for 47 years.
A Life Sentence Delivered
During the emotional sentencing hearing, O'Dea's family described the decades of pain and uncertainty they endured. "For 47 years, we've lived with this horror," one family member told the court.
Judge Lease acknowledged the profound impact on the victim's family, stating that Gligor had "robbed Nadine of her life and her family of their loved one."
Gligor, who had lived as a free man for nearly five decades following the murder, will now spend the remainder of his life behind bars, finally answering for his crime after evading justice for almost half a century.