DNA leads to conviction in 26-year-old cold case

written by: Anastasiya Bolton Reporter

ADAMS COUNTY - A jury convicted a man Tuesday of a gruesome murder that dates back 26 years.

It was 1980 when 15-year-old Nanine Grimes was found stabbed to death, more than 80 times.

Years later, DNA evidence has helped link Troy Brownlow to the murder.

"It's the best day ever," said Nanine's mother, Gwen Frick. "We finally have justice, that's all we ever wanted."

Recently, Brownlow gave a DNA sample to an Arizona prison, when he was getting out after serving on theft charges.

That sample was put in a national database and linked him to the DNA found at the crime scene 26 years ago.

Investigators say Brownlow's blood was all over the house where Nanine's body was found.

Her older sister Deanna Davis discovered the body.

"He killed her after she was already dead," said Davis. "Over and over again."

As years wore on, the hope of finding the killer faded.

"It wasn't a lot of conversations about it any longer," said Frick. "It was just hard to think that we would never know."

"I didn't expect to know, so I wasn't wanting to know. But now we know, now it all makes sense," said Davis.

The convicted killer, Troy Brownlow went to the same school as the sisters. He lived just a few blocks away and was 16 at the time of the murder.

Davis says Nanine was home alone that night when Brownlow knocked on the door.

"He probably made an advance on her," said Davis. "I taught her how to fight, she fought him and I think she tried to defend herself tooth and nail and I think that enraged him."

Even though DNA linked Brownlow to the murder, his family says they're not convinced he did it.

"We have prayed all along that the truth will come out on this," said Betty Brownlow, Troy's mother. "And it came out wrong for us, and we're still not convinced it's the right decision."

As Brownlow spends the rest of his life in prison, for both families, some questions still linger.

"Why did you kill my baby girl?" said Frick.

Brownlow will be eligible for parole after he serves 20 years in prison.

His attorney says they will appeal.