WA news LIVE: Police make breakthrough in cold case murder

WA Police have made a breakthrough in the cold case murder of 22-year-old Kerryn Tate, who was found dead in bushland in Karragullen 45 years ago.

Testing on an unknown male DNA profile recovered from the crime scene by an investigative genetic genealogy team has finally led detectives to a suspect: Perth man Terence John Fisher, who died in 2000.

And police have also linked Fisher to two other killings, believing that if he were alive today he would be able to help police with their investigations into the deaths of Barbara Anne Western in 1986 and Kerry Suzanne Turner in 1991.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Coombes said the news sent a clear message that WA Police never gave up.

“Unfortunately, we may never know the motivations for this horrific crime but with the public’s help we may be able to finally bring some comfort to the Tate family,” he said.

“The use of investigative genetic genealogy is allowing us to solve more cold cases than ever. It’s a resource-intensive process, but it’s one the major crime team is committed to.

“It’s still a relatively new investigative technique but with time and as new technology becomes available, these methods will only further compliment traditional detective work.”

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Dion Selby, the lead investigator on the case, said information from the public could be the final key to the puzzle.

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“We are trying to build a picture of Mr Fisher’s regular movements, of his routine. For example, we know he regularly attended a sailing club in Fremantle,” he said.

“We know he had served in the army and was a carpenter by trade. We know he lived in Rivervale and Manning areas at the time of Ms Tate’s murder.

“There is much we know about him but we want to know more.”

Kerryn Tate was found dead when forestry workers investigated a small bushfire in Karagullen the day after she was last seen alive in Mount Lawley on Saturday, December 29, 1979.

An autopsy found she had severe head and facial injuries, with a large piece of wood found at the scene identified as the murder weapon.