After nearly three decades of uncertainty, investigators have finally identified the man responsible for the 1998 murder of 50-year-old Sheryl Crandell inside her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Police said the suspect, Baari Shabazz, died in 2019 at the age of 69.

The breakthrough came through investigative genetic genealogy, a method that has helped close numerous cold cases nationwide.

Key Points

• Investigators identified Baari Shabazz as the suspect in the 1998 murder of Sheryl Crandell.
• Genetic genealogy led to the discovery after a renewed investigation in 2021.
• Shabazz lived about a mile from the hospital where the victim worked; the motive remains unknown.

DNA technology provides long-awaited answer

On January 13, 1998, Crandell was found dead in her Family Health Center office around 8:30 p.m. by a maintenance worker. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled and sexually assaulted. Despite a broad investigation, detectives at the time were unable to find a suspect.

The case went cold for more than two decades until December 2021, when Prince George’s County Police Cold Case Unit detectives obtained court approval to use genetic genealogy. Working with the FBI’s Baltimore Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team, investigators began tracing DNA evidence collected from the crime scene.

FBI and local detectives trace DNA to deceased suspect

After months of analysis, the FBI team matched the genetic material to Shabazz in late October. Officials said he had lived about one mile from the Cheverly hospital at the time of the murder.

There is no evidence indicating that Crandell and Shabazz knew each other, and investigators have not determined a motive.

Police seek public input despite case closure

Although the suspect is deceased, police are encouraging anyone with information about Shabazz’s background or possible connections to other crimes to contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.

Anonymous tips can be shared through the Crime Solvers website, the “P3 Tips” mobile app, or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Detectives ask callers to refer to case number 98-013-1118.

A family’s decades-long wait for justice ends

Crandell’s murder shocked hospital staff and the Cheverly community in 1998. The new DNA match brings long-awaited closure to her family and colleagues who endured years of unanswered questions. Police said the investigation represents another example of how emerging technology can help deliver justice even decades after a crime.

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Section Cold Case Unit identified the suspect responsible for killing Sheryl Crandell in 1998. Ms. Crandell was found murdered in her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly. The suspect is Baari Shabazz. He died in 2019 at the age of 69. 

On January 13, 1998, a maintenance employee discovered the 50-year-old victim in her Family Health Center office at approximately 8:30 pm. An autopsy determined her cause of death was strangulation. She had also been sexually assaulted. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of her murder.

PGPD Cold Case Unit detectives sought and obtained court authorization to begin investigative genetic genealogy in connection to this case in December of 2021. FBI Baltimore’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team initiated investigative genetic genealogy and was able to ultimately identify the suspect in late October of this year. At this time, there is no known connection between the victim and suspect. He did live approximately one mile from the hospital back in 1998. The motive for the murder is unknown.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation and would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective, they are asked to please call 301-516-2512.

Anyone with information may also contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 98-013-1118.

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 It’s a new chapter for history lovers and family researchers in the Ohio Valley.

The Steubenville Public Library just received a donation of 53 rare volumes from the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Ohio.

Each book serves as an encyclopedia for Mayflower descendants tracing family lineages back five or more generations to the passengers who arrived on November 11th, 1620.

Library staff say the donation comes just in time with holidays around the corner and with the anniversary of the Mayflower just around the corner.

There were 53 volumes that were donated and you know these can be difficult to find so having them here in the library is going to be really of great help to people who are researching their family. We are very grateful of them for donating these to our library.”

Erica Grubbs, Head of Local Genealogy, Steubenville Public Library

The collection is now available for the public to explore at the Schiappa Branch in the local history and Genealogy department in Steubenville.

Society of Genealogists and Family History Federation are jointly arranging an online conference to be held Saturday 14 November 2026.

Those aged 16 to 35 years of age on 14 November 2026 are invited to submit proposals for presentations.

Topics

We are looking for a variety of genealogy and family history topics on the theme of "New Connections".  A focus on topics of interest to younger genealogist is preferred.

Format

Presentations should be 20 minutes. They may be presented live or pre-recorded, though live is preferred, and all speakers should be present for a Q&A session following their presentation. They should be delivered in English. They may be individual or joint by 2 or more presenters.

Terms

We expect to be able to pay presenters through sponsorship, details to be confirmed. Accepted presenters under 18 years of age will be required to submit evidence of parental approval to take part prior to the event.

Submit

Proposals should be emailed to events@sog.org.uk  and should include:

• The presenters name(s), email address(es) and age(s).
• Brief bio (approx. 50 words)
• Draft title
• Short summary of presentation

Dates

• Deadline for submission of proposals: Sunday 12 July 2026

• From Passion to Presentation: How to Share Your Genealogy Story Like a Pro: 8pm BST Tuesday 7 July 2026: Book here. This free Zoom session is designed to help you prepare your proposal.
• Notification of acceptance: Friday 14 August 2026
• Conference: Saturday 14 November 2026

Society of Genealogists: https://www.sog.org.uk/

Family History Federation: https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/

On Saturday 22 November from 9am to 12.30pm, the Cooroy-Noosa Genealogical and Historical Research Group is holding an open day and Christmas Market. Visitors will be welcome at the Heritage Centre, 17 Emerald Street Cooroy.

A selection of potted plants at bargain prices, hand crafted jams, chutneys and relishes lovingly made by our members, and a variety of Christmas gifts will be on sale.

Volunteers will be available to answer questions about the Cooroy-Noosa Genealogical & Historical Research Group. Take the opportunity to see firsthand the resources available at the centre to undertake your ancestry and family history research.

If you are interested in digitising your old family photos, we invite you to bring a print along for a free demonstration of the centres digitising facilities.

The organisation was formed in 1996 by a group of friends who shared a keen interest in family history and that small group has now grown to over 130 members. In January 2016 the group moved into their purpose-built Heritage Centre that contains a modern research area, meeting space and family history research library that is open for the community to use.

The Heritage Centre is open to the public from 9.30am to 1pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You can drop in for a free session. Membership provides great value for money access to the research facility and library as well as special functions and expert assistance.

Call 3129 0356 in the above office hours. More information can be found on the website www.genealogy-noosa.org.au

Have you ever wanted to find out more about your ancestors? The Estes Park Genealogical Society can show you how to fill in the missing pieces of your family history. Come to the EPGS Family History Workshop at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the library’s Hondius Room. Our experienced genealogists will answer your questions.

Are you interested in doing your own research? We will show you how to use the library’s free Ancestry.com subscription. Other helpful genealogy tips and websites will be discussed. If you would like to get started on your family history and pick up genealogy research tips, this is the workshop for you.

All Genealogical Society meetings are open to the public — no membership is required, but if you enjoy our meetings and wish to regularly attend, we would love to have you join us, and membership is only $30 annually. Come join us for interesting programs, lively discussions, and help with your genealogy research. The society meets monthly except for the month of December, at 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the Hondius Room of the Estes Valley Library, offering a wide variety of programs and workshops.

More information about the society, including how to become a member, can be found on its website, estesparkgenealogicalsociety.weebly.com. All who are interested in genealogy and family history research are welcome to attend these free public programs.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the White Buses rescue mission, the Swedish Red Cross and the Swedish Holocaust Museum have launched a new digital platform bringing together stories, photographs and documents from one of the most significant humanitarian operations of the Second World War. 

During the final months of the Second World War, the Swedish Red Cross led the White Buses mission, which brought around 15,000 people — many rescued from Nazi concentration camps — to safety in Sweden. 

“The White Buses operation is one of our largest and best-known humanitarian efforts. Through this collaboration, we can share important stories from both those who were rescued and those who made the operation possible,” says Ulrika Modéer, Secretary General of the Swedish Red Cross. 

The new website also includes educational resources and was accompanied by a public program series that was hosted at the Swedish Holocaust Museum.  

“The White Buses are a key part of Sweden’s history. Making these stories accessible helps us understand both the courage and complexity of humanitarian action during wartime,” says Katty Hauptman, Director of Swedish Holocaust Museum. 

Explore the material 

The Clinton Public Library will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its new Memory Lab: The Maker Space of Memories, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.

The Memory Lab is a community resource designed to help preserve personal and recorded histories.

This addition was made possible through a grant from the Clinton County Development Association and support from the Friends of the Clinton Public Library.

The library is at 306 8th Ave. S.

The ceremony is scheduled for 5-6 p.m., with light refreshments.

Guests are invited to explore the Genealogy Department and preview the Memory Lab equipment during a lock-in from 6-8 p.m.

Registration is required.

Call 563-242-8441.

I’ve lived in Delaware County for more than 15 years. Many of the regular events of the area are traditions my family has adopted, as well. I have never missed a December First Friday tree lighting, even one year when a bad bout of winter illness threatened it. Farmers Market is a must-do for those beautiful summer Saturdays. But one tradition has remained on my to-do list until this year – attend the Veterans Day parade.

The Delaware Veterans Parade drove, walked, marched, and cycled through downtown Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 2. I was pleased to see hundreds of marching band members, service organizations, community members and businesses supporting and driving the veterans through our downtown. It was incredibly worthwhile to take a mere hour of my day to thank the brave souls whose selfless sacrifices last a lifetime.

This Tuesday, Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day at the Delaware County District Library. Our locations will close for the holiday, but our resources are available 24/7 and are worth a look.

The Delaware County District Library has an ongoing project called Delaware County Veterans and Heroes, which seeks to gather, preserve, and make accessible the experiences of all county veterans. If you, a relative, or someone you know has served in any branch of the armed forces and has a connection with Delaware County, add your story to our collection at www.delawarelibrary.org/services/veterans. The growing collection currently hosts over 600 records of service for Delaware County men and women.

Additionally, the library subscribes to Fold3, an online subscription service powered by Ancestry.com that provides a vast collection of military records, documents, photos and stories. Fold3 will help you discover and share stories about your heroes and the families that supported them. With DCDL’s access to Fold3, you can combine records found on the site with what you have in your own albums and shoeboxes to create an online memorial for someone who served.

A search of Fold3 with my grandfather’s name brought back his WWII draft registration card. It’s amazing what this one, double-sided piece of information can tell me about my grandfather from a single moment in time.

To learn more about veterans and understand the experiences of military veterans, try one of these stories.

• “The Ballad of Roy Benavidez: The Life and Times of America’s Most Famous Hispanic War Hero” by William Sturkey. The dramatic life of Vietnam War hero Roy Benavidez, revealing how Hispanic Americans have long shaped U.S. history.

• “Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War” by Helen Thorpe. Describes the experiences of three women soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to reveal how their military service has affected their friendship, personal lives and families, detailing the realities of their work on bases and in war zones and how their choices and losses shaped their perspectives.

• “Tuesday’s Promise: One Veteran, One Dog, and Their Bold Quest to Change Lives” by Luis Carlos Montalván. A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalván never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, his physical wounds and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. Then Luis met Tuesday, a sensitive golden retriever trained to assist people with disabilities. This is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other.

• “Unbroken Bonds of Battle: A Modern Warriors Book of Heroism, Patriotism, and Friendship” by Johnny Joey Jones. Suffering a life-changing injury while deployed in Afghanistan, Jones faced a daunting recovery. But coming home would have been much harder without the support of his brothers and sisters in arms. Through unfiltered and authentic conversations with American heroes in every branch of service, Joey tackles the big questions about life, loss, and, of course, hunting.

• “Service: A Navy SEAL at War” by Marcus Luttrell. The author turns his focus from his own experiences as a combat-trained Navy SEAL to the nature of service on America’s battlefields and the soldiers who give their lives to defend their nation and each other.

• “The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” by Elizabeth Cobbs. In 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France. They were masters of the latest technology: the telephone switchboard. General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, demanded female “wire experts” because without communications for even an hour, the army would collapse. Against the political backdrop of 1918, these competent and courageous young women swore the Army oath.

If you have a question that you would like to see answered in this column, mail it to Nicole Fowles, Delaware County District Library, 84 E. Winter St., Delaware, OH 43015, or call us at 740-362-3861. You can also email your questions by visiting the library’s web site at www.delawarelibrary.org or directly to Nicole at nfowles@delawarelibrary.org. No matter how you contact us, we’re always glad you asked!

After 57 years, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office has finally identified the victim in a 1968 homicide case that baffled investigators for decades. Officials confirmed that forensic genealogy led to the identification of the woman as Myrtle Holcomb, born in 1919.

According to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered the burned remains of a woman in a field near Lake Wheeler Road and Ten Ten Road on April 28, 1968. Witnesses had reported a fire in the same area the night before. Despite extensive investigations and later DNA testing, the woman’s identity remained unknown for more than half a century.Investigators renewed efforts in 2004 when new information pointed to a local resident, Robert Reagan, as a suspect, though no arrest was made due to his death in the 1990s. In 2024, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Astrea Forensics and First Genes LLC, submitting a DNA sample that led to the identification of Holcomb through genetic genealogy.

Sheriff Willie Rowe said the discovery “provides long-sought answers” for Holcomb’s family and “reassurance that she has not been forgotten.” The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also assisted in the decades-long case.

Officials emphasized that the findings not only close a historic case but also showcase how forensic advancements continue to bring justice to unresolved crimes.