One of the state’s first cold cases to be solved using genetic genealogy has identified a suspect, now deceased.

A suspect has been identified in the 38-year-old unsolved murder of Lakewood teenager Jeannie Moore. 

Jeanie, 18, worked at a local gas station near 13th and Wadsworth, according to the cold case file. Moore was known to hitchhike to work and on the morning of August 25, 1981, she left her home near I-70 and was seen getting into a vehicle near the on-ramp at Harlan Street. According to police, she was seen getting into a vehicle, possibly a Ford LT, that had pulled over for her. Jeannie never showed up to work.

Five days later, Moore’s deceased body was found in Genesee Park. She had been brutally beaten and raped. No suspect was named at the time, and her murder was left a cold case, though, DNA and other evidence were collected. As technology advanced, the case made some progress, and in 2008, the DNA evidence was reexamined. In 2011, a DNA profile was uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but in both cases, no match was found.

Then, in May 2019, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office sent the DNA profile from Moore’s case to United Data Connect, a company specializing in forensic science computing, that provides services such as familial DNA searches and forensic genetic genealogy analysis, among other services. The company provided an analysis, and investigators were given a place to start. They followed up on the analysis, spoke with family members, and got other DNA samples for cross-reference.

Perea, courtesy of Jefferson County Sherriff's Department

Investigators have officially named Donald Steven Perea as the suspect and were able to confirm that Perea was the only person likely to have killed Jeannie Moore—3.3 times more likely than any other person. Sadly, there will be no justice for Jennie, as the suspect has been dead for several years.

Perea lived in the Pueblo area and died in May 2012, at the age of 54. He had a history of assault and sexual violence and was out on bond for a different violent sexual assault case in Westminster when he killed Moore. He served time in prison from 1982 to 1985 and had a dismissed assault charge a few years later, then a guilty plea to assault in 1999, and a traffic ticket in Pueblo County in the early 1990s. Perea was married for 25 years and had several children, and it was through the matching of DNA supplied by his biological daughter that police were able to confirm Perea’s identity.

The naming of Perea as a suspect is sure to have a great impact on Moore’s family, and his own, and the question that has haunted investigators all these years has finally been answered. Though there will be no trial or penalty for the crime, at the very least, peace can come to Moore’s memory and family as the mystery of who took her life has been solved.

Jeannie Moore would be celebrating her 57th birthday this month and is survived by a family of six siblings, her parents died a few years ago. The closure of this case brings an end to decades of wondering, but does not take away the pain that Moore’s death brought her family and community. The Moore family still mourns the loss of their sister and released this statement through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

"We would like to thank JeffCo homicide detectives for all their hard work. Jeannie Marie Moore was loving and kind in all her ways. She was sincere and true in her heart and mind and she has left behind beautiful memories."

The continued development of DNA identification and genealogy analysis technology will likely play a role in more unsolved cases across the country.