Breakthrough in Cold Case
Joseph A. Ambroz, 77, was arrested in , for the 1969 murder of 17-year-old Mary Kay Heese in , after a grand jury indictment reignited hope for resolution in the long-unsolved case.
Heese was last seen alive on March 25, 1969, in . Her body was found the next day in a roadside ditch, fully clothed but shoeless, suggesting a struggle before she was stabbed 12 times.
Investigative Advances and Legal Proceedings
Investigators recently exhumed Heese’s body, although the specifics of how this contributed to Ambroz's arrest remain unclear. The case had seen renewed interest leading to the grand jury indictment.
Ambroz, with a criminal history including a conviction in Nebraska, is awaiting extradition to face charges in Nebraska. His capture brings closure to a case that saw extensive investigation and community effort over decades.