For nearly 46 years, the murder of Carol Sue Claber, a vibrant 16-year-old, cast a shadow over Boone County, Kentucky. The year was 1976, a time when communication didn’t happen at a screen’s touch, and teenagers gathered at local parks to connect with friends. Carol was last seen alive on June 4th at Devou Park in Covington, Kentucky, leaving with an unidentified man in a Pontiac Grand Prix or a similar car.
The next morning, a chilling discovery. Dr. Gaines Huey, a local dentist, found Carol’s lifeless body by the roadside while driving to work. This marked the beginning of a long and agonizing search for answers.
A Glimmer of Hope: Detective Work and DNA Technology
Detective Jerry Keith, the case’s initial investigator, carried the weight of Carol’s unsolved murder for decades. Years later, Detectives Coy Cox and Tim Adams inherited the cold case, determined to bring closure to Carol’s family. They meticulously chased leads, even interviewing a suspect in Northern Indiana who had stolen a car matching the description of the one seen with Carol. Despite compelling circumstances, DNA testing ruled him out.
Hope was rekindled when a second suspect, Michael Dean Tate, surfaced due to a disturbingly similar crime he committed in 1978. However, DNA testing again led to a dead end.
The turning point arrived in September 2022 when the detectives turned to Othram Labs, a cutting-edge laboratory specializing in genetic genealogy. With funding from Season of Justice, a non-profit organization, DNA evidence from the crime scene was sent for analysis. In a matter of months, a name emerged: Thomas Dunaway.
A Shocking Revelation and a Bittersweet Resolution
The news sent shockwaves through the investigation. Thomas Dunaway was not a stranger to the criminal justice system. Six months after Carol’s murder, he had fatally shot Ronnie Townsend in Boone County, a crime he confessed to and served a mere seven and a half years for.
Further investigation unveiled Dunaway’s history of crime. He had enlisted in the military shortly after Carol’s murder, going AWOL six months later. Upon returning to Kentucky, his crime spree continued, culminating in Townsend’s murder and car arson.
Tragically, justice for Carol couldn’t be served in a courtroom. Dunaway died in 1990. However, in a significant victory, detectives obtained a court order to exhume his body for DNA confirmation. The results confirmed their suspicions – Thomas Dunaway was responsible for the rape and murder of Carol Sue Claber.
Closure for a Grieving Brother
Meeting with Carol’s brother to deliver the news was a poignant moment for Detective Cox. He recounted the relief that washed over the man who had shouldered the burden of his sister’s unsolved murder for almost half a century. “I have closure,” he said, finally free from the weight of unanswered questions.
The case of Carol Sue Claber is a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement and the groundbreaking advancements in DNA technology. While nothing can truly heal the pain of losing a loved one so tragically, solving this decades-old mystery provides a sense of peace and justice for Carol and her family.