Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Cold Case Unit have arrested and charged a suspect, Marion Gales, 63, in a 35-year-old homicide cold case.
On Friday, July 27, 1990, at approximately 9:59 p.m., dispatchers received a call from Edward Friedland who stated someone had killed his wife. Charlotte Police Department Officers, MEDIC and Charlotte Fire Department responded to the scene and located the victim, Kim Thomas, deceased within the residence.
Homicide detectives responded to investigate. The victim was transported to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, and the manner of death was ruled homicide.
For more than 35 years, detectives from the Homicide Unit and Cold Case Unit have continued investigating this case and have submitted numerous items of evidence for lab testing as new technology became available.
On Feb. 17, 2026, CMPD Cold Case detectives received a DNA lab report from the CMPD Crime Laboratory containing new information obtained from analyzing existing evidence using innovative technology. Detectives then obtained warrants for the arrest of Marion Gales for the murder of Kim Thomas.
On Feb. 19, CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) officers located and arrested Gales.
Gales was brought to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) to be interviewed by detectives. At the conclusion of this interview, Gales was transported to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, and charged with first degree murder.
Thomas's family has been notified of the arrest.
CMPD Cold Case Detectives would like to thank the tireless efforts of the CMPD Crime Laboratory, the Federal SAKI Grant, DNA Labs International, CMPD VCAT and the many detectives involved in this case over the years.
The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Division. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Hefner is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App, or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 19900727-2159-00.
Republished courtesy of CMPD