Overview
- Michigan State Police said Tuesday that DNA from Roni Collins’ autopsy matched evidence from the 1983 crime and identified him as responsible.
- Collins, 75, died by suicide in January 2026 before investigators could obtain a voluntary DNA sample, so he will not face charges.
- Detectives reopened the case in 2023 and, with the MSP Forensic Science Division and Othram Labs, built a genetic profile through advanced sequencing.
- Students in Western Michigan University’s Cold Case Program reorganized and digitized decades of files, which helped detectives recheck leads.
- Police said the identification provides long-sought answers to Elliott’s family and the Flint-area community.