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Aurora, CO – Authorities have announced a major breakthrough in a nearly 40-year-old cold case, filing murder charges against an inmate for the 1986 killing of 18-year-old Donna Sue Wayne. The suspect, 62-year-old Donald B. Wessel, is currently incarcerated for an unrelated crime.
Wayne was reported missing on August 10, 1986, after she failed to return home from a dinner with a friend. Her body was discovered the following day in a field in Aurora, and an autopsy determined she had been stabbed to death. The case went cold for decades despite persistent investigation efforts by the Aurora Police Department.
The turning point came through advancements in forensic science. According to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, DNA evidence was collected from the crime scene in 1986, and a profile was developed in 2002, but it yielded no matches in existing databases. In early 2024, investigators partnered with Parabon NanoLabs, a company specializing in genetic genealogy. This advanced DNA analysis pointed to Wessel as a potential suspect.
Investigators then obtained a new DNA sample from Wessel, who is serving time at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility for a 1982 sodomy conviction. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed that his DNA was a match to the profile recovered from the 1986 crime scene. Wessel has since been charged with first-degree murder after deliberation and felony murder.
In a statement, Wayne's family expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies involved for their commitment to solving the case. Her sister specifically thanked detectives for their tireless work over the years. This arrest highlights the growing impact of genetic genealogy in providing resolution for cold cases that have remained unsolved for decades, bringing long-awaited answers to victims' families.
