The Killer's Fingerprint Was Already in Police Files | Gloria Kowalewicz

For 65 years, Chicago police had the fingerprint of the man they now say murdered 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz. The print was recovered from the strap of Gloria's white First Communion purse in 1960. What investigators did not know was that a matching set of fingerprints already existed inside the department's own personnel records. In 2026, DNA testing, investigative genetic genealogy, and a new fingerprint comparison identified former Chicago police officer Thomas F. McInerney Jr. as Gloria's alleged killer. McInerney joined the department in 1959, later worked homicide, sex crimes, and violent crimes, and died in 2006 without ever being arrested in Gloria's case. This documentary follows Gloria's final walk to church, the discovery in Palos Park, the evidence preserved for more than six decades, the forensic breakthrough, and the disturbing career of the man police now identify as her killer. This video discusses the death of a child and sexual evidence. Viewer discretion is advised. McInerney was identified posthumously by police and was never tried in court for Gloria's murder. CHAPTERS 0:00 The fingerprint police already had 2:37 Gloria's final walk 3:36 The original investigation 5:29 The evidence is retested 6:51 Genetic genealogy changes the search 7:37 Investigators identify Thomas McInerney 8:43 The fingerprint match 10:43 He dies before the truth emerges 11:51 The killer who became a detective 13:57 Questions about his police career 16:21 What closure means for Gloria's family 17:16 The evidence that survived 65 years #GloriaKowalewicz #TrueCrime #ColdCase #DNAEvidence #ChicagoCrime