Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Syracuse police detectives are launching new efforts to find a young woman’s killer. Jill Lynn Euto was killed 11 years ago this Sunday. The victim’s sister, as well as detectives remain determined to find the man who killed the 18-year-old woman in her James Street apartment on Super Bowl Sunday, January 29, 2001.
An FBI profile of the killer was done, and detectives are considering resubmitting all of the facts in the case to the FBI, for another review. There are more than 650 police reports, which are being reviewed and people who've been questioned in the past, will be questioned again.
There are more than 60 unsolved homicide case files that share space in the Cold Case Squad’s cabinets. But the the Euto case is the only one that fills an entire cabinet.
Euto lived on the sixth floor of the apartment building on James Street. She was living on her own for the first time, working two jobs and enjoying life until someone decided to end it in a very violent way. On that fateful day, Jill Lynn was found in her apartment with multiple stab wounds, but there were no signs of forced entry.
“It was a very violent, brutal murder and unfortunately her family found her,” Detective Tom Murfitt said.
Jill Lynn’s mother Joanne Browning found her and to her surprise, Jill Lynn’s Boston terrier “Hooch” was spared. The family took in Hooch and took on a mission to find her killer.
A reward for information leading to her killer’s arrest was raised and constant attention was given to the case until four years ago, when Joanne Browning died in a tragic roofing accident. And just two weeks ago, Hooch passed away.
Jill Lynn’s sister Jenna has her own theories about the killer.
“From what I know about what happened, it was deeply personal, so I believe that she did know the person who did this,” Jenna said. “I am hoping that with this cold case division, that there will be more leads and more opportunities for them to work on this case.”
Jenna says, like her mom, she’ll never give up hope that her sister’s killer will some day be caught.
Physical evidence will head back to the Forensic Science Center and the case is permanently featured on the department’s website. If you have any information on this case, call the Cold case homicide detectives at 442-5234, or you can now e-mail them at
coldcasesquad@syracusepolice.org.
