On Aug. 25, 1981, Jeannie Moore left her home for work at the Tenneco gas station at 13th and Wadsworth. As usual, she began hitchhiking at the onramp from Harlan to westbound I-70 at about 7:10 a.m. An employee and a customer at a nearby gas station, along with other witnesses, saw a vehicle pull over. Moore tried the passenger door of the vehicle, but she appeared to have problems with it. The driver leaned over and opened the door from within.
The vehicle was described as a 1969 or 1970 red, Ford LTD or Galaxy, possibly with a black vinyl top. Moore was wearing blue jeans and a peach-colored sweater. She was carrying a brown leather purse with a mushroom design and blue bandana for a strap.
On Aug. 30, 1981, picnickers found Moore’s body in Genesee Park south of I-70. An autopsy showed death was caused by blows to the head.
Through further investigation and collaboration with the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory a more comprehensive DNA profile was created from evidence collected from the original crime scene. JCSO worked in partnership with United Data Connect to use forensic genetic genealogy testing, which helped lead investigators to identify Donald Steven Perea as the suspect in Jeannie’s death. Donald died of health-related issues on May 28, 2012.
Cold Case Investigator
303-271-5195
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