Davie Police Solve 1987 Marilyn Decker Murder Using DNA Evidence

After nearly four decades, Davie police say they have solved the 1987 murder of 28-year-old Marilyn Decker, whose mutilated body was found in a plastic bag floating in a canal near Flamingo Road on Oct. 22, 1987; the Broward Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide by asphyxiation with multiple stab wounds. Modern DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy—working from several hairs recovered from Decker’s shirt and a towel—led investigators and chief genealogist CeCe Moore to suspect Donald Lawless, and officers confirmed the match by obtaining DNA from a close living relative after learning Lawless had died and was cremated in 1995. Lawless, who lived in Florida in the 1980s and had a lengthy criminal history dating back to the 1940s, is now the charged suspect in the case, and detectives say they believe he may be linked to other unsolved killings in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and elsewhere in Broward County. The Broward State Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence and determined there was sufficient proof to charge the now-deceased Lawless, and Davie police are coordinating with local and national agencies to investigate potential connections to other cold cases. Decker’s family said the breakthrough brought both closure and anger, and investigators credited the 2021 reopening of the file and advances in DNA technology for finally cracking the case.