Deck Brewer Jr., 78, has been charged with the murder of Susan Leigh Wolfe, a 25-year-old University of Texas nursing student killed more than 40 years ago. Wolfe was abducted in 1980 while walking to a friend’s house, sexually assaulted, strangled, and shot in the head. Brewer was identified as a suspect after evidence related to the sexual assault was tested and matched his DNA. He is currently incarcerated in Massachusetts on unrelated charges and has not yet obtained legal representation.
The investigation into Wolfe’s murder has been ongoing for years, with over 40 persons of interest and six suspects interviewed. A breakthrough came in April 2023, when evidence ruled out the initial suspects and identified Brewer as a possible match. Brewer admitted to being in Austin and San Antonio around the time of the murder but invoked his right to counsel when informed of his DNA match at the crime scene.
The investigation is still ongoing, with police searching for the person who was in the passenger seat of the car used in Wolfe’s abduction. The Austin Police Department is urging anyone with information about the case to contact their cold case unit or submit an anonymous tip through Austin Crime Stoppers.
Brewer’s DNA testing results show a very low probability of selecting an unrelated person at random who could be the contributor to the DNA profile found at the crime scene. The case highlights the importance of advancing DNA technology in solving cold cases and bringing closure to families of victims.
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