An Idaho man, Michael Eugene Mullen, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Nina Fischer in California in 1973. DNA evidence led investigators to identify Mullen as a suspect in the case, and he was arrested near Salmon, Idaho. Fischer, a Swedish national, was killed in her San Rafael home, where she lived with her husband and young daughter who was unharmed in the attack. Fischer’s husband found her body after returning from work, and the case had originally gone cold with no leads.
After years of investigation and utilizing the California Department of Justice’s Familial Search Program, Mullen was identified as a suspect in Fischer’s death. The program compares DNA from crime scenes to a DNA database to find potential relatives of suspects. Mullen, now 75 years old, is being held in jail pending extradition to California to face charges for Fischer’s murder. Fischer’s husband found her body after she had been sexually assaulted and shot three times, and the case had remained unsolved for over 50 years.
Fischer’s death in 1973 shocked the community, and the investigation had initially turned up no leads despite questioning witnesses like movers and an assessor who had been at the house. The case was eventually sent to the Familial Search Program in 2021 by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, leading to the identification of Mullen as the suspect after several months of DNA comparison. Mullen’s defense attorney, Dan Brown, has not yet publicly commented on the arrest or charges against his client, but Mullen is expected to face prosecution for Fischer’s murder.
The use of DNA technology in cold cases like Fischer’s murder has become increasingly common in recent years, allowing for the identification of suspects even decades after the crime was committed. Mullen’s arrest after over 50 years highlights the importance of advancements in forensic science and the dedication of law enforcement officials to seeking justice for victims. The closure brought to Fischer’s family and the community serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of unsolved crimes and the hope that justice can still be served even many years later. The extradition process will bring Mullen to California to face trial for his alleged involvement in Fischer’s death, bringing a sense of resolution to a case that had remained unsolved for decades.
