James Richard Clark Sr. killed both women. He was a local man who was 19 and 20 years old at the time of the murders.
Both women were abducted near their vehicles, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Rush's body was found in the trunk of her car, while Ritter's body was discovered down an embankment.
Forensic specialists extracted genetic material from both crime scenes to confirm the murders were connected. Genealogists then used investigative genetic genealogy and database searches to build family trees and identify Clark.
No. Clark died of natural causes in July 2023 at the age of 66.
Investigators believe there could be more victims because Clark spent much of his adult life working as a long-haul commercial truck driver. Police are coordinating with federal authorities to track his historical driving logs and freight routes.