DNA Testing Solves Long-standing Crimes in Long Island

Recent advancements in DNA technology have finally unraveled two gruesome crimes that have puzzled authorities for almost three decades: the rape and murder of two elderly patients on Long Island, as announced by prosecutors.

Investigators have linked Stephen Bleeke, a known criminal with a history of sexual offenses, to the murder of 69-year-old Anne Lustig in 1997 and to the rape of an 82-year-old mental health patient in 1996. This information came from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Sadly, Bleeke passed away 12 years ago, leaving the families with unanswered questions.

Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney remarked that the establishment of the Cold Case Task Force aimed to address unresolved crimes that have weighed heavily on victims’ families and communities.

“Thanks to forensic science and the tireless work of law enforcement, we can now confidently identify those responsible for these dreadful crimes,” Tierney stated.

Advancements in technology have played a crucial role in linking these two heinous acts.

Lustig had been reported missing from Kings Park State Psychiatric Hospital and was discovered murdered in Calverton on February 19, 1997, with no suspects at that time.

The murder took place shortly after an unnamed 82-year-old woman from the same facility reported being raped by a stranger on December 20, 1996. She indicated that she was approached while walking, but when she declined a ride, the assailant forcibly took her into his car and assaulted her.

The elderly victim passed away in 2012, leaving no chance for her attacker to be identified. However, the cold case team made significant progress last year by connecting both cases to Bleeke through newly accessible DNA technology.

“Anne was a wonderful person who endured a difficult life and met a tragic fate,” reflected Joseph Saccone, Lustig’s grandson, during a press announcement regarding the case.

Bleeke, a registered sex offender who died in 2014, had a troubling background including past convictions for robbery, assault, and child sexual abuse, as well as numerous public indecency offenses.

Suffolk County Police Chief Kevin Catalina stated that nearly 30 years after these crimes, they remain committed to providing justice for the victims’ families.

“The Cold Case Task Force is focused on using scientific advancements to solve unsolved murders and sexual assaults, and we believe we will continue to achieve success in the future,” Catalina added.