Alphabet Killer Mystery Deepens: New DNA Evidence Links Decades-Old Murders to California Serial Killer Joseph Naso

For decades, the chilling spectre of the Alphabet Serial Killer has haunted Rochester, New York, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and profound grief. Now, a groundbreaking development has injected a potent mix of hope and trepidation into these cold cases: DNA evidence from the 1971 murder of Carmen Colon, the first known victim, has been linked to Joseph Naso, a notorious California serial killer who died in prison in 2019.

This potential breakthrough could finally unravel one of America's most perplexing unsolved crime sprees.

Naso, dubbed the "Double Initial Killer" in California, was convicted in 2013 for the murders of four women whose first and last names began with the same letter – a haunting echo of the Rochester victims: Carmen Colon, Michelle Maenza, and Wanda Walkowicz. Colon's body was discovered in a culvert in the town of Riga on November 16, 1971.

Just over a year later, Michelle Maenza, 11, was found on December 1, 1973, in a vacant lot in Macedon, and Wanda Walkowicz, 11, was found on April 2, 1973, along a road in Webster.

Retired Rochester Police detective Dennis Doiron, who has dedicated years to this case, confirmed the DNA link, describing it as "significant." Doiron, alongside former FBI profiler John Kelly, has long championed the theory that the Rochester murders and Naso's California crimes were connected.

Their persistence, often met with skepticism from initial investigators, now appears vindicated.

The journey to this point has been long and arduous. In 2017, Doiron provided DNA from the Rochester crime scenes to an independent lab for advanced testing. The lab's findings, which remained confidential until recently, identified a suspect: Joseph Naso.

This pivotal information was then relayed to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and the Rochester Police Department, prompting a re-evaluation of the evidence.

The new DNA comparison reveals a direct connection to semen found on Carmen Colon's clothing. While the evidence specifically links Naso to Colon, the striking similarities in victim profiles, methods, and the unique double-initial signature strongly suggest he is the perpetrator of all three Alphabet murders.

Furthermore, geographic profiling, a technique Naso himself was known to use, indicates a possible connection to Rochester. Naso had relatives in the area and a history of traveling across the country, making him a plausible suspect for crimes committed far from his primary residence.

This revelation offers a glimmer of hope for families who have endured five decades of uncertainty.

For the Maenza and Walkowicz families, this news could finally bring a measure of closure. However, it also opens a Pandora's Box, raising the chilling question: if Naso was indeed the Alphabet Killer, how many other unsolved murders across the country might also be attributed to him?

John Kelly emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating, "This is incredible news for the victims’ families and for law enforcement, who have worked tirelessly to solve these cases." He urged investigators to meticulously re-examine all cold cases with similar characteristics, particularly those involving young girls with double initials, as Naso's dark legacy could extend far beyond what was previously known.

While Naso is no longer alive to face justice, this breakthrough offers a profound sense of resolution and validates the tireless efforts of those who refused to let these cases fade into history.