Police name husband killer in 1998 Utah cold case of wife found wrapped in carpet

The husband of a murdered Ohio girl who was discovered rolled right into a carpet nearly 25 years in the past was named the killer by Utah authorities Wednesday, placing an finish to the 1998 chilly case.

Utilizing superior DNA know-how, state police decided that Lina Reyes-Geddes was killed by now-deceased husband Edward Geddes. Reyes-Geddes was discovered on the aspect of a Utah street close to Maidenwater Spring by a passerby.

She had been coated in plastic baggage, wrapped in duct tape, tied with a rope after which thrown right into a sleeping bag earlier than she was wrapped in carpet, authorities stated.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis advised The Put up after a number of failed makes an attempt previously, authorities had been capable of pull DNA from the rope utilizing a specialised vacuum.

As a result of Geddes killed himself in 2001 and was cremated, police wanted to get DNA from two kin to match the DNA on the rope, Davis stated, which introduced again a optimistic match for Geddes.

One other set of male DNA was discovered on the rope, however that particular person was later dominated out, Davis stated.

Lina Reyes-Geddes in an undated photo.
Lina Reyes-Geddes was discovered rolled right into a carpet in 1998.
Utah Division of Public Security

“There’s lots of ups and downs in regulation enforcement, however I'd put this case on the prime of simply making you're feeling good,” Davis, a 23-year veteran, stated. “… The assistance that actually helps individuals and modifications lives it’s very fulfilling.

“No less than there’s some closures, not less than there’s solutions.”

After the sufferer was present in April 1998, her stays weren't recognized by the native sheriff’s division and the case went chilly, in line with the Utah Division of Public Security. She was not reported lacking by her husband, however by an aunt of hers who lived in Mexico 5 months after she was final seen alive, Davis stated.

Edward Geddes is interrogated by police.
Police used superior DNA know-how to find out that Edward Geddes, right here in 1998, killed his spouse.
Utah Division of Public Security
Lina's sister Lucero hugs a family member.
Lina’s sister Lucero traveled from Mexico to supply a DNA pattern to police.
Utah Division of Public Security

The case went chilly till 2018 when Utah and Ohio authorities each launched images of Reyes-Geddes across the similar time. The Utah photograph was of the Jane Doe discovered and the Ohio photograph stemmed from a lacking particular person’s case, which led the 2 businesses to hyperlink up.

The sufferer’s sister traveled from Mexico to supply a DNA pattern and police had been capable of verify Reyes-Geddes was the Jane Doe, investigators stated.

The sister visited her grave in Utah a couple of years in the past.

Lina Reyes-Geddes and her husband in an undated photo.
Reyes-Geddes had been coated in plastic baggage, wrapped in duct tape, tied with a rope after which thrown right into a sleeping bag earlier than she was wrapped in carpet.
Utah Division of Public Security

“I felt like for 20 years nobody would hearken to me. However now I do know what occurred,” stated Lucero, Lina’s sister, in a 2019 Utah state police press launch. “I’m right here to convey her dwelling, not like I anticipated, however I’m bringing her again dwelling with me.”

“She was very appreciative and grateful, even again in 2018 simply from the ID, she was very grateful and humble for what had been accomplished,” Davis stated. “It wasn’t what they’d hope for and anticipated however not less than they knew, not less than they knew the place she was, they knew that that they had her stays again.”

Geddes claimed when he was interviewed by police in 1998 that his spouse was touring from Ohio to Texas after which to Mexico, however Davis believes that Reyes-Geddes was killed in Ohio after which transported to Utah.

He’s uncertain why Geddes traveled greater than 1,800 miles to dump the physique. Previous to that DNA piece, there was circumstantial proof that pointed to Geddes because the killer, Davis stated.

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