After 48 years, the family of Lindy Sue Biechler received closure when David Sinopoli, 69, confessed to her brutal 1975 murder, writes Jonathan Bergmueller for Penn Live, appearing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Sinopoli made the confession after waiting in prison for a year without bail on homicide charges. He pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and burglary charges in exchange for a 25-to-50-year sentence.

Investigators determined that Sinopoli lived in the same apartment building where the murder took place.

Conclusive evidence came after investigators linked DNA from Sinopoli’s discarded coffee cup at Philadelphia International Airport to DNA evidence collected at the crime scene.

“I would just like to apologize to everyone, including my wife,” Sinopoli said in a brief statement in the courtroom. 

Sinopoli was a contradiction, confessing to the heinous act of murder after going on to live a seemingly normal life afterward.

Lindy Sue’s family, who filled the courtroom, expressed a mix of grief and relief.

“While you, Mister Sinopoli, continued to live life — Lindy did not,” said Elizabeth Clark, Lindy Sue’s sister-in-law.

Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth addressed Sinopoli, saying, “Finally—Finally! After too long, justice has finally been served.”

Find out more details about the murder investigation and Sinopoli’s life after 1975 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette..