An investigation into the 1975 murder of a teen in Clintonville has finally come to an end.
“I feel like it’s closure for Christie but it opens up more questions than answers,” Mullins’ sister, Melanie Miller said.
The anguish is still fresh for Christie Mullins’ family, even 40 years later. Tears flow as Columbus Police close the case of her murder.
“I guess at this point the mystery is, who covered it up and why was it covered up,” Miller said.
That's the reaction to these words from detectives about the original investigation.
“Involved improper investigative techniques and procedures that were directly responsible for the arrest of the wrong man,” Sgt. Eric Pilya said.
Mullins was found in the woods, tied up and beaten. A mentally challenged man, known in the area, was pointed out, arrested, plead guilty but was eventually acquitted.
The case stalled and went cold. A push by the community to reopen it just came to this conclusion.
“The suspect responsible for the death is Henry H Newell, Jr.,” Sgt. Pilya said.
Newell died two years ago. He was the man who allegedly found her body but he was never a suspect. The cold case detectives don't know why.
“The entire investigation lacked any viable information or evidence that points to the involvement of any other alternative suspect,” Sgt. Pilya said.
Police say Newell disturbed the original scene and the first detectives didn't follow proper protocol. Recently, Newell's relatives came forward. 10TV spoke with one, Newell's niece.
“What I'm going to tell you might shock you he said that he did kill her,” Pam Newell said.
“The Columbus Division of Police wishes to formally and publicly offer an apology,” Sgt. Pilya said.
“I appreciate it, I really do because that's more than we ever got back then,” Miller said.
A case formally closed but not for the family. They think there should be a closer look at the original investigators.
“God help them, if they're still alive, how can you lay your head down on the pillow every night and sleep,” Miller said.
Columbus Police says attorneys have looked at how the case was originally handled and, while it was shoddy, they say there wasn't any misconduct and there won't be a further investigation.