Evesham technology used to solve 38-year-old Florida murder case

Carla Lowe, 21, was murdered in 1983 and now, almost 40 years later, cold case detectives in Delray Beach have arrested a man believed to be the perpetrator, thanks to technology developed by Foster+Freeman.

The company, based at Vale Park, is responsible for developing RECOVER, a unique fingerprint visualisation system, which was used by detectives to solve the case.

Chief technology officer at Foster+Freeman Roberto King said: “As scientists, we strive to develop ideas, concepts and understandings that can hopefully improve the world around us.

“Forensic science utilises some of these incredible techniques and applies them in different ways, to achieve a common goal... justice!”

Carla Lowe, then 21, was found dead on the street outside a Florida train station in 1983. Photo: Delray Beach Police Department

Unlike existing fingerprint development techniques that require a physical trace (sweat or skin oils) to be present to detect a fingermark, RECOVER enables forensic experts to reveal fingerprint ridge details even when all physical traces have been removed.

Using RECOVER, forensic experts were able to reveal a previously unseen finger mark that linked long-term suspect Ralph Williams to the scene and enabled detectives to make an arrest.

Delray Beach police chief Javaro Sims said: “This is the exact reason why the cold case position was initiated earlier this year, to help bring some level of closure to the families who have lost any hope of justice for their losses.”

Williams was taken into custody on Monday, November 29, after being indicted by a jury.

Detective Todd Clancy, leader of the Delray Beach cold-case unit, said there was no apparent connection between Clara and Williams, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The RECOVER system was used by detectives to solve the 38-year-old murder case

Meanwhile, police released a statement on behalf of Carla’s sister, Jackie Lowe-Repass.

It read: "I just want the world to know Carla was a good person.

"She was a beautiful and giving person. She wasn't just a piece of trash that someone threw away."

On her reaction to Williams' arrest, Jackie’s statement read: "I played this in my head a thousand times. I never thought this day would come. There's a name now to who did this to my sister."