On April 7, 1978, the body of 47-year-old Carolyn Cox Rose was discovered in a house off of 297-A. Carolyn, a local realtor, received a call from a potential buyer earlier that day to show the home. When she didn’t return her co-workers went to the house to check on her, discovering her body.
Escambia County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office investigators launched a full investigation, several suspects were interviewed and investigated . DNA evidence was collected on scene, but lack of technology made it impossible to use for an arrest.
Fast forward four decades, and DNA technology has rapidly advanced. Recently, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator Kevin Coxwell partnered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Parabon NanoLab. Parabon's results linked the DNA sample to Julius William Hill, Jr..
Hill died in the Victorville United States Penitentiary in California in 2017 while serving a 30-year sentence for two different bank robberies.
“We are extending our heartfelt sympathy to the family and descendants of Mrs. Rose. While nothing fills the void of a lost loved one we can at least finally bring closure in knowing justice was served,” said Sheriff David Morgan.