Michelle Puett was raped in May 1987 at a Cuyahoga Falls park.
Janice Christensen was raped and murdered three months later at a Hudson park.
Detectives thought the two cases, which had many similarities, might be linked but lacked the evidence to prove it.
That changed when DNA testing recently proved their suspicion was right. Thomas Collier Jordan , a now-deceased drifter from Cleveland, was responsible for the attacks of both Michelle and Janice.
More: Need help? Here are resources available for rape victims
Investigators think Jordan, whose criminal career spanned 55 years and five states, may have assaulted other women. They have issued a nationwide bulletin that urges law enforcement agencies to see if Jordan can be tied to any of their cold cases.
Another victim stepped forward after the announcement about Jordan’s DNA tying him to the two cases. Vicki Farinacci was raped in April 1987 in her Akron home, one month before Michelle’s rape, and wondered if Jordan could also be her rapist.
So, that means a rape that solved a murder could then help solve another rape.
To learn more, join us in exploring this unusual turn of events with Resolved, a four-part series that is a collaboration of the Beacon Journal and the Ohio Mysteries podcast:
'Saved my own life': Woman raped as teen shares story of her rape solved 37 years later
Michelle Puett-Howard was 17 when she went to the park to contemplate where she wanted to go to college. During her brief walk, she was stopped by a man who pulled a knife, forced her into the woods and raped her repeatedly.
Hers was the little-known rape case that ended up solving the 1987 Janice Christensen murder.
Michelle is sharing her story in the hope that other potential victims of Thomas Collier Jordan will come forward.
'Saved my own life': Woman raped as teen shares story of her rape solved 37 years later
What to know about serial rapist and murderer Thomas Collier Jordan's life of crime
Thomas Collier Jordan recently was tied through DNA testing to two Summit County cold cases.
He had a lengthy criminal history and was in and out of prison for much of his life, though often for more minor crimes.
Investigators have shared information about Jordan with law enforcement across the country to see if he can be tied to any other cold cases.
Serial rapist and killer: Who was Thomas Collier Jordan?
55 years and 5 states: A timeline of what we know about Thomas Collier Jordan's life of crime
'That's him!' Mother raped by stranger in home gets closure 37 years later
The story of a new victim has surfaced since DNA tied Thomas Collier Jordan to two other cold cases in Summit County.
Vicki Farinacci identified Jordan as her rapist after Lt. Dave Whiddon of the Akron Police Department showed her a mug shot of Jordan from 1972.
Unfortunately, the evidence in Vicki's case was destroyed in 1993, so no DNA testing can be done to positively identify Jordan as Vicki's rapist.
'That's him!' Mother raped by stranger in home gets closure 37 years later
'We've made significant progress,' Akron detective says of approach to rape cases
Vicki Farinacci, née Miller-Cobb, was raped in 1987.
In 1993, the evidence in her case was destroyed.
The approach to handling rape cases — and the statute of limitations — have dramatically changed since the ‘80s.
The statute of limitations for rape in Ohio is now 25 years instead of six as it was decades ago.
'We've made significant progress,' Akron detective says of approach to rape cases
Also, check out Unresolved, a series about cold cases, on Beaconjournal.com and the Ohio Mysteries’ website . Janice Christensen’s murder was the first case in the series.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and 330-996-3705. Paula Schleis can be reached at feedback@ohiomysteries.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How a Summit County cold rape case helped solve a murder | Resolved
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