Cold case in Colorado connected to one of the state’s most notorious serial killers almost 40 years later

Cold Case of Colorado Mother Solved After 36 Years

The unsolved murder of Rhonda Marie Fisher, a young mother from Colorado, has been linked to one of the state’s most infamous serial killers who was released from prison in 1987, as reported by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Fisher, 30, was discovered on the side of the road in Sedalia, Colorado, on April 1, 1987. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Recently, authorities revealed that they have finally solved her case.

Using “extremely rare” skin cells collected nearly four decades ago, investigators identified Vincent Groves as the individual responsible for this tragic crime.

Groves is noted as one of Colorado’s most prolific serial killers, linked to a series of murders in the state during the 1970s and 1980s. He was eventually apprehended and died in prison in 1996. The sheriff’s office later issued a statement highlighting the importance of evidence preservation and advancements in forensic science over the years.

For years, Groves and another suspect were the primary focus of the investigation, but earlier DNA technology was insufficient to confirm their involvement in Fisher’s murder. Sheriff Darren Weekley mentioned that “trace” evidence was gathered from a paper bag placed in Fisher’s hand to help preserve evidence.

The skin cells found in that bag matched Groves’ DNA, which had been retained from previous convictions linking him to three other murders, according to Weekley.

While Fisher’s immediate family has since passed, her cousin expressed relief upon learning about the breakthrough in the case. Michelle Kennedy, a supervisory crime analyst with the sheriff’s office, noted that the family was pleased to finally have answers.

Groves, once a promising high school athlete, turned to a life of crime, including drug dealing, which led to human trafficking and eventually murder. He reportedly targeted vulnerable young women, and law enforcement believes Fisher might have been seeking a ride the night she was killed.

After a 1982 murder conviction, Groves served only five years before being released the same year Fisher was killed. The sheriff’s office remains unsure why he was released early. Shortly after, he was back in prison for the murders of Diane Mancera and another victim in a nearby county.

In 2012, it was speculated that Groves might be connected to over 20 other murders in Colorado. After his death, he was linked to seven additional killings of women and girls in the state, aside from Fisher’s case.