Nation Cops chased dead ends for 40 years in a California teen’s cold case. Then a suspect’s relative emerged. September 24, 2022September 24, 2022 Sarah Elbeshbishi, USA TODAY Comments Off on Cops chased dead ends for 40 years in a California teen’s cold case. Then a suspect’s relative emerged. The 1982 rape and killing of 15-year-old Karen Stitt had frustrated California cops for decades before a suspect's relative and DNA led to an arrest.