Lakeland, Florida – After 37 years, the brutal murder of Teresa Lee Scalf has finally been solved. On October 27, 1986, Teresa was sexually assaulted and killed in her own home. When she failed to show up for work, her mother discovered her lifeless body. Teresa’s throat had been severely cut, almost to the point of decapitation, and she had defensive wounds on her hands, indicating that she had fought back against her attacker.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office recently identified the perpetrator as Donald Douglas, Teresa’s neighbor at the time of the attack. However, Douglas cannot be charged as he died of natural causes in 2008 at the age of 54. The initial investigation in 1986 collected evidence, including blood that did not belong to Teresa, which was preserved and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.

The case remained cold for over three decades, primarily due to the lack of a criminal history for Douglas, which meant his DNA was not in the system. In 2022, the sheriff’s office collaborated with Othram, Inc., a private lab specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, to analyze the preserved blood sample. Using genetic genealogy, they were able to narrow down the investigation to distant relatives of the suspect, leading them to Douglas’s family. Douglas’s son provided a blood sample that confirmed his father as the killer.

Teresa’s family, especially her 84-year-old mother, Betty, expressed relief and closure upon learning the perpetrator’s identity. Betty said in a press conference, “I lived to see this done. I think that’s why I lived so long.” Teresa’s sister, Pam Shade, shared words of encouragement to other homicide victims, urging them not to lose hope and emphasizing the dedication of law enforcement in solving cases.

While justice cannot be fully served with the death of the perpetrator, the identification of Donald Douglas brings important closure to Teresa’s family and offers hope to other unsolved cases. The tireless efforts of law enforcement, coupled with advancements in forensic technology, prove that justice can be achieved even after decades of uncertainty.