Executive Summary
- Marion Gales, 63, arrested and charged with the 1990 murder of Kim Thomas Friedland.
- New forensic technology allowed police to analyze complex DNA mixtures collected 35 years ago.
- The suspect had previously worked at the victim’s home and was recently imprisoned for a separate 2008 killing.
- The victim’s husband, originally a suspect, was exonerated years ago after charges were dropped.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Authorities have arrested and charged 63-year-old Marion Gales with the 1990 murder of activist Kim Thomas Friedland, citing breakthroughs in forensic DNA technology as the catalyst for solving the 35-year-old cold case, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Officers apprehended Gales on Thursday, February 19, at a residence in Charlotte. He faces charges related to the killing of Friedland, whose body was discovered inside her home in the Cotswold neighborhood on July 27, 1990. According to police reports from the time, the victim had been stabbed and suffered a slashed throat.
Deputy Chief Ryan Butler stated in a news conference that the arrest resulted from re-examining evidence with modern technology. Butler explained that the laboratory was able to reevaluate DNA mixtures—samples containing genetic material from multiple individuals—which were previously difficult to decipher. This updated analysis reportedly verified profiles that directly linked Gales to the incident location and the victim.
Investigators noted that Gales had performed work at the Friedland home prior to the murder. The suspect had only recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for the killing of another woman in 2008. Historically, suspicion in the Friedland case had fallen on the victim’s husband, Dr. Ed Friedland, who was arrested but later cleared of charges due to a lack of evidence. Dr. Friedland’s attorney, David Rudolf, has long maintained that evidence pointed to Gales.
Investigative Outlook
While the arrest marks a significant resolution to a decades-old mystery, law enforcement officials emphasized that the investigation remains technically open to ensure all evidentiary avenues are solidified for prosecution. The successful identification of a suspect through re-tested DNA samples highlights the critical role of evolving forensic science in reviewing dormant case files, potentially signaling a precedent for other unresolved homicides in the region. It is important to note that all individuals, including Mr. Gales, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
