Illinois Man Charged In 1993 Murder After Forensic Genealogy DNA Match
Albert L. "Buddy" Zigler was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Madison County, Illinois, after investigators linked decades-old crime-scene DNA to him using forensic genealogy.[1]
Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor announced the charge at a news conference on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.[1] Authorities said they used the Texas-based forensic genealogy firm Othram to identify Zigler from DNA recovered at the scene decades ago.[1] The charge relates to the brutal 1993 killing of a mother who was found slain in a field.[1] Her son, Wes Sperino, described being emotional upon learning a suspect had finally been charged more than 30 years after the killing.[1]
In 1993 investigators collected DNA from the scene, but the sample remained unmatched until the recent genealogical analysis.[1] Officials say the Othram match allowed detectives to narrow suspects and file charges this week.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Investigators used the Texas-based forensic genealogy firm Othram to identify Albert L. "Buddy" Zigler from decades-old DNA recovered at the crime scene.
- The suspect has been identified as Albert L. "Buddy" Zigler.
- First-degree murder charges against Zigler were filed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
- Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor announced the charge at a news conference on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
- The case concerns the brutal 1993 killing of a mother who was found slain in a field.
- The victim’s son, Wes Sperino, gave an emotional reaction after learning a suspect had finally been charged more than 30 years after the killing.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article confirms that investigators used the Texas-based forensic genealogy firm Othram to identify Albert L. "Buddy" Zigler as the suspect based on decades-old DNA from the crime scene.
- It reiterates that Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor announced Zigler's first-degree murder charge at a news conference on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, following the filing of charges on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
- The piece includes a direct quote from the victim's son, Wes Sperino, describing his emotional reaction to learning that a suspect had finally been charged more than 30 years after the 1993 killing.