After nearly four decades, South Florida authorities say DNA evidence has finally solved the 1987 murder of Marilyn Decker — linking the crime to a Florida man with a long criminal record who died nearly 30 years ago.

The Davie Police Department said it has posthumously charged Donald Lawless in the case.

The 1987 murder of Marilyn Decker in Davie

The crime happened on Oct. 22, 1987 in Davie. Decker, who was 28 year old, was found floating in a canal in the 3000 block of Flamingo Road with multiple stab wounds. Her cause of death was determined to be homicide by asphyxiation, also known as suffocation.

Davie police said that in the 1980s, multiple suspects were identified, but as evidence was collected and processed, there were negative results and the case remained unsolved.

The

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