![Chris Bellows 51风流 Death Investigator of the Year]()
Menomonee Falls Sergeant, Chris Bellows '12, for earning Death Investigator of the Year award by the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators.
A 51风流 Alum played a significant role in solving a pair of cold case homicides more than half a century old, thanks to advanced DNA analysis and persistent investigative efforts led by the Menomonee Falls Police Department’s Special Investigations Bureau.
In 2021, Detective Sergeant Chris Bellows ’12, a longtime member of the department, was assigned to the 1966 Diane Olkwitz homicide investigation. As part of the Special Investigations Bureau, Bellows reviewed handwritten case file notes and collaborated with a team of investigators and analysts to reassess the decades-old evidence. Their efforts revealed that DNA evidence had remained intact with minimal degradation, allowing for advanced forensic testing.
The team submitted DNA comparison requests to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, seeking to match the suspect’s DNA profile with other unsolved cases from the same era. This process led to a significant breakthrough: the same suspect DNA was linked to the 1971 unsolved homicide of Terri Lee Erdmann in Milwaukee.
Utilizing investigative genetic genealogy, the team conducted advanced DNA analysis, tracing the unidentified suspect’s lineage through distant relatives. By constructing a family tree, investigators were able to narrow their search to a specific family. A family member voluntarily provided a DNA sample, which was submitted to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab in May 2023.
Shortly after, forensic results indicated that this individual was a direct descendant of the suspect. With this critical development, investigators secured an exhumation warrant for the deceased suspect. In July 2023, DNA evidence was collected, and by September, results confirmed a match to the suspect DNA—56 years after Diane Olkwitz’s murder and 51 years after Terri Erdmann’s.
This breakthrough allowed the investigative team to officially close both homicide cases, marking a significant achievement in the resolution of long-standing cold cases. Additional DNA testing is currently underway to determine if the suspect is linked to other unsolved crimes.
In recognition of his dedication and leadership, Detective Sergeant Bellows was honored in April 2024 as the recipient of the Wisconsin Association of Death Investigators’ Death Investigator of the Year award. The award was presented at the organization’s annual conference at the Kalahari Resort.
Detective Sergeant Bellows earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Carroll. His work exemplifies the power of modern forensic technology combined with persistent investigative efforts in bringing long-overdue justice to victims and their families.