29 years after woman stabbed to death in Minneapolis, DNA leads to trial

Nearly 30 years after a woman was stabbed to death in her Minneapolis apartment, the Isanti man accused in her death will go to trial Monday, where his attorney will try to persuade the jury that any of five other men could be the culprit.

Jeanne Ann "Jeanie" Childs, 35, was found in June 1993 with dozens of stab wounds in the south Minneapolis apartment police say she used for prostitution. Prosecutors will argue DNA evidence two decades later pointed to Jerry Westrom, who was arrested in February 2019 after investigators said they confirmed the DNA match using a hot dog napkin he discarded at a hockey game.

Westrom was charged with second-degree murder and posted $500,000 bail, later reduced to $250,000. In June 2020, a grand jury indicted him on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.

https://www.startribune.com/29-years-after-woman-stabbed-to-death-in-minneapolis-dna-leads-to-trial/600198332/