A Nebraska man, Tommy Molina, 69, has been apprehended and awaits extradition to Germany, facing murder charges for the 1978 stabbing death of 18-year-old Cornelia Hümpfer. Molina, a U.S. Army veteran, was stationed in Germany at the time of the incident. His arrest comes after decades of investigation, punctuated by renewed inquiries and advancements in DNA technology.
German authorities suspect Molina, then 24, was involved in an extramarital affair with Hümpfer. Her body was discovered on a roadside with multiple stab wounds, prompting an initial investigation that included questioning Molina. However, the case remained unresolved for years.
A pivotal development occurred in 1995 when Molina's third wife contacted U.S. Army investigators, claiming that an inebriated Molina confessed to killing a German woman he had an affair with. According to the complaint, Molina recounted that the woman had revealed her pregnancy and intended to inform his wife. Despite this information and subsequent questioning in 1996, where Molina denied involvement, the case stalled.
The advent of new DNA technology breathed life back into the investigation. In 2020, authorities secured a blood sample from Molina under a federal search warrant. Analysis confirmed the presence of Molina's genetic material on crucial pieces of the victim's clothing, leading to his recent arrest. If convicted in Germany, Molina faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Image caption: The German national flag. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)
