The murder of Sherry Crandell was one of Prince George’s County’s oldest mysteries. For 27 years, investigators had no idea who attacked the nurse and administrator as she worked inside her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Detectives had DNA but were unable to link it to anyone – until now. Police say genetic genealogy led them to a man who died six years ago, a bittersweet result for the lead detective and Crandell’s family.

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On the January 1998 night Crandell was found murdered inside her office, a young detective took charge of the scene and never gave up. For 27 years, Bernie Nelson, now retired, interviewed witnesses, tracked down leads and, for the last five years, used genealogy to find the man who kille

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