After a drawn-out pursuit for justice, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have made a breakthrough in a murder case that remained unsolved for 35 years. Marion Gales, 63, stood accused of the crime which took the life of Kim Thomas Friedland back in 1990, with the arrest conducted by the CMPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. The chilling case that lingered in the shadows of unsolved mysteries has now found a glimmer of resolution, according to a report from CMPD's official statement.
The long-overdue arrest comes on the heels of a DNA lab report, which CMPD detectives received on Tuesday. Containing new information, the lab report was the result of applying innovative technology to existing evidence. Following these developments, detectives took out warrants, and Gales was subsequently arrested today, almost 36 years since dispatchers heard the call from Edward Friedland reporting his wife's death. Throughout the years, detectives and forensic experts persisted, revisiting the case as advancements in technology afforded new opportunities to analyze old evidence.
Kim Thomas Friedland was discovered deceased in her home on July 27, 1990, following a call to dispatchers late in the evening. The autopsy, carried out by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office, confirmed her death as a homicide. According to the CMPD, Gales, after his arrest, was brought to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning and will later be transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. Charged with First Degree Murder, Gales' capture was a moment Kim Thomas Friedland's family likely thought might never come. The CMPD credited the collaboration of various units, the Federal SAKI Grant, DNA Labs International, and many detectives who've kept the case alive through the decades in their statement.
With the investigation still knocking on doors for additional leads, CMPD reassures the public that the work is not yet completed. Information related to the case is still welcomed, and individuals can provide anonymous tips through various channels such as Crime Stoppers. Detective Hefner, assigned as the lead in this long-standing case, continues to dissect the strands that might weave into a complete tapestry, shedding full light on the events from that fateful day in 1990.
For those inclined to look deeper into the specifics, the CMPD encourages referring to the original report: 19900727-2159-00 for more detailed information.
