Chicago police have identified former homicide detective Thomas McInerney as the killer of eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz in a 1960 cold case, using newly discovered DNA evidence. McInerney, who died 20 years ago, was a respected officer and investigator, making the revelation a shocking betrayal for the community and police department.
Chicago police recently announced they used newly discovered DNA evidence to tie the 1960 murder of eight-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz to one of its own former homicide detectives, Thomas McInerney. McInerney had been deceased for 20 years by the time authorities issued the statement identifying him as the killer, having retired from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and later working as an investigator for federal public defender’s offices in Nevada. The CPD expressed hope for closure for Gloria's loved ones, stating that McInerney "should have never worn the CPD star" and lamenting that he was never held accountable while alive. The Chicago Tribune first reported the story, detailing how the decades-old case was solved by DNA evidence gathered from a genetic ancestry website. Gloria was last seen on November 12, 1960, walking to church before she was abducted, fatally shot, and her body found in a forest preserve. Despite extensive investigations at the time, including interviewing 1,300 people and conducting lie-detector tests, no suspect was identified. However, earlier in 2026 (likely a typo in the original article, implying a recent breakthrough), DNA submitted to a family tree website enabled the FBI to link McInerney, who lived near Gloria, to the crime scene. Further DNA, fingerprint, and ballistic testing confirmed his culpability. McInerney joined the Chicago police force in 1959 and was about 25 at the time of the murder. He retired as a homicide investigator in 1987 and later received commendations during his career. Gloria’s parents died without knowing who murdered their daughter. Her brother, Adam Kowalewicz, found relief in the identification but expressed frustration that McInerney died at age 70 without ever facing justice.
