Mineola, N.Y. (AP) — In a shocking development for a case nearly four decades old, Richard Bilodeau, 63, has been indicted for the murder of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, who disappeared after a part-time job at a Lynbrook roller-skating rink in November 1984. DNA evidence obtained from a straw discarded by Bilodeau at a local café has linked him to the crime. Fusco's body was found weeks later, buried under leaves in a wooded area near the rink.
Three men who were wrongfully convicted of Fusco's murder served years in prison before DNA evidence led to their exoneration in 2003. Each of them later received compensation for wrongful imprisonment—two were awarded $18 million. Fusco's father, Thomas, attended Bilodeau's arraignment and spoke of the pain of reliving the tragedy, expressing hope that justice would finally be served.
Bilodeau's indictment follows a year-long investigation by county authorities who uncovered multiple leads. Prosecutors revealed that they collected DNA from a cup and straw used by Bilodeau, which matched samples taken from the crime scene in 1984. Assistant District Attorney Jared Rosenblatt indicated that Bilodeau had acknowledged the possibility of past injustices regarding the case, saying, 'Yeah, people got away with murder back then.' Rosenblatt's response in court underscored the gravity of the moment: 'Well, Mr. Bilodeau, it’s 2025, and your day of reckoning is now.'
This case drew attention not only due to its tragic circumstances but also because Fusco's disappearance occurred around the same time as two other local teenage girls. Kelly Morrissey, 15, went missing earlier in 1984 and has never been found, while 19-year-old Jacqueline Martarella's body was discovered in a nearby golf course the following year. This history of vanished young women in the area compounded the public interest and urgency surrounding Fusco's unsolved case.
As this legal battle unfolds, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly emphasized her commitment to the pursuit of justice for victims and their families. 'The past has not been forgotten,' she stated. With Bilodeau now facing up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing quest for accountability in the face of past wrongs.
