Cold case thaws as Baltimore man is indicted in 1981 murder

DNA recovered from a blanket taken from a crime scene decades ago has helped prosecutors bring charges against a Baltimore man they say raped and killed a 75-year-old woman in 1981.

Phillip D. Lee, 55, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree sex offense in the death of Anna Dorthea Smith. He has been held since mid-August without bail. Police and prosecutors announced his indictment Friday.

The indictment "highlights the power of DNA analysis, which led us to this defendant," Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said.

The case had no suspects until advances in DNA testing helped point investigators to Lee. Investigators have been unable to find any of Smith's relatives to inform them of Lee's arrest.

"In essence, the detectives on this case were the victim's last voice," police spokesman Detective Jeremy Silbert said.

Baltimore's Cold Case Unit, made of one lieutenant and five detectives, juggles several old investigations at the same time. Its members can decide to look at any unsolved homicide or other major crime.

Over the years, technology and legislation have enabled the state to expand its collection of DNA from criminals and suspects, increasing the likelihood that detectives can link long-stored evidence to suspects and solve years-old cases.

In July, Baltimore County police and prosecutors identified suspects in the unrelated killings of women in the 1990s. DNA tests allowed the Baltimore County state's attorney's office to close both cases, but there were no charges: The two men had since died.

Authorities in Baltimore said connecting Lee to Smith's killing took several years of work.

Smith was found strangled in her home in the 2500 block of W. Fairmount Ave. on the morning of Dec. 7, 1981.

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Cold case thaws as Baltimore man is indicted in 1981 murder