After more than two decades, the Chicago Police have resolved a cold case murder that has lingered unsolved since 2004. David Barklow, 68, has been charged with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Kent Projansky, who was 40 years old at the time of his death. Projansky was killed in his apartment on the 1100 block of North Dearborn, a crime that went unsolved for years. According to Fox32 Chicago, the breakthrough came from a combination of re-examined evidence and advancements in forensic technology.
Early in the investigation, Chicago police found a duffel bag on the Northwest Side, containing bloody clothes and a firearm. This bag, as reported by WGN TV, was soon linked to the ballistic evidence at the murder scene. Despite this early lead, a conclusive connection to a suspect remained elusive as detectives probed the depths of the evidence. Only after the resubmission of the cold case evidence to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, spurred by retired Detective James Browne, did an alleged perpetrator come to light.
The suspect, Barklow, was first arrested in 2019, but released without charges pending further forensic verification. As detailed by Fox32 Chicago, it was concluded that there was a forensic link between Barklow, the firearm, and the clothing found in the duffel bag. Despite these initial proceedings, Barklow evaded custody by fleeing the country. In a relentless pursuit, detectives tracked his movements from Ecuador to Peru, ultimately leading to his extradition back to Chicago this November.
Upon his return, Barklow was formally charged with the murder that had once stymied the Chicago Police Department. During the announcement of the arrest, CPD hailed the dedication of its homicide detectives. "This investigation highlights the relentless work of CPD’s homicide detectives. No matter how many years passed, detectives continued to work the case until this offender was in custody," CPD stated, affirming their commitment to the pursuit of justice as obtained by WGN TV. Barklow's next court hearing is anticipated to take place on Saturday, ushering in the next phase of a long-delayed justice for the family of Kent Projansky.
