Nearly 30 years after Terri Turachak was murdered in her Denver apartment, her killer has been brought to justice. Turachak, 35, was killed on October 5, 1996, and the case remained unsolved for years until DNA testing helped identify Ricky Dawson as a suspect. Dawson was charged in 2023, convicted in March 2026, and sentenced on April 29, 2026, to life in prison without parole. The sentencing marked the culmination of decades of investigative work and provided answers for Turachak’s family after nearly three decades without resolution. As part of BJA’s Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program, this work reflects the continued value of forensic DNA in helping agencies revisit and resolve long-standing cases. The case also highlights the persistence of the Denver Police Department, Denver Crime Laboratory, and Denver District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit in pursuing justice.
