GAITHERSBURG, Md. (TCN) — Investigators recently used genetic genealogy to break open a cold case and identify a suspect in a 2001 homicide.
On Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at approximately 11:47 a.m., Montgomery County Police responded to Leslie Preer’s home after she failed to show up to work. Inside, officers found her deceased and “identified a crime scene within the house.” Preer’s death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators recovered DNA evidence from the scene, but they were unable to identify a suspect using traditional DNA testing at the time. More than 20 years later, police submitted blood evidence to genetic genealogy company Othram Inc. in September 2022.
Investigators developed a comprehensive DNA profile and produced investigative leads. According to Othram, police collected DNA from a potential suspect in June 2024 and compared it with DNA evidence recovered at the original crime scene. As a result, investigators identified the alleged killer as Eugene Gligor.
The U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Gligor in Washington, D.C., on June 18 on a charge of first-degree murder. Gligor will be extradited back to Maryland.
Leslie Preer’s daughter, Lauren Preer, told WTTG-TV Gligor was her ex-boyfriend. Lauren Preer allegedly began dating the suspect when she was 15 years old, and their families knew each other.