When Elaine Schaffer went lacking from her Colorado Springs home in January 1988, her daughter wasted no time in informing the police. Nevertheless, the lacking individual case was quickly upped to a murder investigation as authorities got here throughout Elaine’s physique shot to demise in a discipline. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Murder Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda: Intestine Intuition’ chronicles the brutal homicide and exhibits how the police adopted a path of comparable circumstances straight to the perpetrator. If this case appeals to your curiosity and also you need to know the place Elaine’s killer is at current, we’ve got you lined.

How Did Elaine Schaffer Die?

A loving mom of 5, Elaine lived together with her pregnant daughter at her Colorado Springs home. The present talked about that she was just lately divorced and looking out ahead to a brighter future. Neighbors and family members described Elaine as a delicate one that beloved serving to others and was at all times seen with a smile on her face. She was extremely near all her kids.

Elaine normally labored late into the night time and was doing so on January 20, 1988. Simply earlier than she acquired off work, Elaine acquired a name from her daughter, who talked about that she needed to have some ice cream. Though Elaine promised that she would quickly be dwelling with the ice cream, the soon-to-be-grandmother by no means returned that night time. Anxious and fraught with fear, her daughter tried to contact Elaine however to no avail. That was when she approached the police to report her mom lacking.

The police instantly jumped into motion and started combing by means of the native areas seeking Elaine. Though her automobile was quickly positioned within the car parking zone of a neighborhood grocery store, the lacking girl was nowhere to be discovered. Nevertheless, issues quickly got here to a head when authorities got here throughout Elaine’s physique in a discipline in conjunction with a highway. It appeared like she was injured close to the highway and dragged out into the sphere earlier than being shot to demise with a shotgun. There have been shotgun shells throughout her physique, and whereas an post-mortem decided the gunshot wounds to be the explanation behind her demise, it additionally confirmed that Elaine was sexually abused earlier than being murdered.

Who Killed Elaine Schaffer?

The preliminary investigation was fairly robust as regardless that the police had a number of results in pursue, most of them got here to a useless finish. Alternatively, there wasn’t numerous forensic proof to tie an individual of curiosity to the crime, making authorities dig more durable for proof. Law enforcement officials sat by means of quite a few interviews, making an attempt to piece collectively a suspect checklist, and even used up most of their investigation methods however to no avail.

Nevertheless, as per the present, in the midst of the investigation, one of many officers realized a couple of kidnapping try that appeared fairly just like Elaine’s homicide. Whereas searching for details about that incident, authorities had been additional knowledgeable of a 3rd try in the identical vein. In each incident, single ladies had been focused within the parking a lot of grocery shops, making police marvel if this was the individual chargeable for Elaine’s homicide.

In keeping with the present, detectives caught an enormous break when the kidnapping suspect was apprehended on an unrelated cost. The individual of curiosity was recognized as Richard Cronin, and the present talked about how he had just lately misplaced his job and gone down the trail of drug and alcohol abuse. In addition to, his spouse approached the police and handed in her husband’s 12 gauge shotgun, which was later affirmed as the identical one utilized in Elaine’s slaying.

Surprisingly, the weapon turned out to be a police problem shotgun and was reported stolen from Richard’s earlier office, as per the present. Furthermore, as the ultimate nail within the coffin, pubic hair discovered on Elaine’s physique got here again as a match to Richard’s DNA, thus confirming him because the killer. Therefore, with concrete proof in opposition to their suspect, the police arrested and charged Richard Cronin with homicide.

The place Is Richard Cronin Now?

As soon as produced in courtroom, Richard Cronin pleaded responsible to felony homicide and was sentenced to life in jail in 1988. Sadly, he has slipped off the radar since then and seemingly prefers to stay a non-public life. Furthermore, neither the present nor state jail data have any details about Richard, making his present whereabouts an entire thriller.

Learn Extra: Erica Crosby Homicide: The place is Kyle Crosby Now?