San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Resolves 1983 Cold Case Murder Using DNA Genealogy
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday the resolution of a 42-year-old cold case involving the 1983 death of Dorothy “Toby” Tate. Investigators utilized forensic genealogy and modern fingerprint analysis to identify two suspects, both of whom are now deceased.
On November 15, 1983, sheriff’s deputies located the body of Tate inside a van parked at a turnout on Highway 1, approximately three miles north of Hearst Castle. An initial investigation determined that Tate died from gunshot wounds. Despite the recovery of physical evidence at the time, the case remained unsolved for several decades due to a lack of identifiable suspects.
The investigation was reopened by Cold Case Detective Clint Cole, who employed contemporary forensic techniques to re-examine original evidence. Blood samples recovered from the 1983 crime scene were submitted for advanced DNA genealogy analysis. This process identified Steven Richard Hardy as a contributor to the DNA profile. Investigators confirmed the finding through a DNA comparison with one of Hardy’s close family members.
Furthermore, fingerprints recovered from a Coca-Cola can found at the scene in 1983 were re-analyzed, resulting in a match for Charley Sneed. Records indicate that both Hardy and Sneed were residents of Texas at the time of the incident. Detective Cole concluded that the motive for the homicide was likely linked to a burglary or theft, as items belonging to Tate were subsequently discovered at a California pawn shop.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that there is no evidence suggesting the involvement of additional suspects. Following a review of the findings, the District Attorney’s Office confirmed that sufficient probable cause existed to support the prosecution of Hardy and Sneed had they been alive today.
Sheriff Ian Parkinson credited the resolution of the case to the advancements in forensic science and the work of Detective Cole, who previously contributed to the investigations of Kristin Smart and Nancy Woodrum. The case has been officially designated as “exceptionally cleared.”
The department acknowledged the contributions of several external partners in the investigation, including Parabon Nanolabs, Othram Labs, and the Phoenix Police Department.
Photo: Stock Image
