A Connecticut man was arrested Monday, May 18 [3], on suspicion of the 1986 [2] rape and murder of 22-year-old Roberta Walls [3].

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that remained unsolved for 40 years [4]. It highlights how evolving forensic capabilities can resolve decades-old crimes even after suspects have moved across state lines.

Charles Randall Berry, 66 [1], was taken into custody in Newington, Connecticut [1]. The crime occurred in Virginia Beach, Virginia [1]. Authorities said DNA evidence and advances in forensic technology linked Berry to the homicide [2].

While the Newington Police Department executed the arrest [2], the Virginia Beach Police Department Cold Case Squad led the investigation and coordinated the effort [2]. The suspect's identification follows a long-term effort by detectives to analyze evidence using modern techniques.

"It's incredibly scary for the community to think that someone who would rape and brutally murder someone 40 years ago was out in society," a police spokesperson said [1].

The Virginia Beach Police Chief expressed gratitude for the resolution of the case. "We are grateful for the dedication of our detectives and the support of the community," the chief said [2].

For the family of the victim, the arrest provides a long-awaited step toward justice. "This arrest brings some closure to Roberta Walls' family," a family member said [4].

Berry now faces charges related to the 1986 attack. The case underscores the persistence of cold case units in revisiting old evidence as new genetic profiling tools become available to law enforcement agencies across the U.S.

“"This arrest brings some closure to Roberta Walls' family."”

This case demonstrates the increasing efficacy of forensic genealogy and advanced DNA profiling in solving cold cases. By linking biological evidence from 1986 to a current suspect, law enforcement is signaling that the statute of limitations on murder does not protect suspects from technological leaps in science, regardless of how much time has passed or where they have relocated.