New DNA Testing Offers Hope in Decades-Old Midwest Cold Case
Advances in forensic technology are being applied to the 1983 abduction and murder of Debbie Smith, potentially shedding light on a string of similar crimes from the 1980s.
More than 40 years after 10-year-old Debbie Smith vanished from a crowded Ohio carnival, new DNA testing is offering a glimmer of hope in solving one of the Midwest's most disturbing cold cases. The renewed investigation into Smith's 1983 murder may also provide answers in the disappearances and killings of at least three other young girls in the region during the early 1980s.
Smith was last seen on June 25, 1983, at a carnival in Massillon, Ohio, where she was with her mother and brother. Her family reported her missing when she disappeared while her mother briefly turned away to get drinks. A frantic search ensued, involving hundreds of officers and volunteers. Nine days later, her badly decomposed remains were found by a canoeist near the Tuscarawas River, about 15 miles from her home. Investigators determined she had been stabbed to death and her throat cut.
Investigators later focused on Robert Buell, who was suspected in Smith's murder. Buell was convicted in 1984 for the kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old Krista Harrison in 1982 and was executed in 2002. DNA evidence, including carpet fibers, linked Buell to Harrison's remains and home. He was also later linked by DNA to the 1981 murder of 12-year-old Tina Harmon. However, Buell was never charged in Debbie Smith's murder, and he maintained his innocence in the girls' deaths.
The investigation into the disappearances of Harmon (1981), Harrison (1982), and seven-year-old Dawn Hendershot (1982) revealed a pattern that fueled fears of a regional predator. These crimes, along with Smith's murder, have haunted northeast Ohio for decades.
During the investigation into Smith's death, investigators searched Buell's home and found candles, wax, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, similar to those found near Smith's body. Buell had also taken a canoe trip along the Tuscarawas River shortly before Smith's disappearance.
In 2009, DNA testing linked Buell to Tina Harmon's murder, with the odds of a coincidental match estimated at one in 96 trillion. However, this did not resolve the questions surrounding Debbie Smith's case.
Recent efforts to re-examine the evidence in Smith's murder began in October 2024, when the Massillon Police Department was contacted by The Porchlight Project, a nonprofit dedicated to solving cold cases. While declining direct assistance, the department agreed to conduct new forensic testing on evidence collected over 40 years ago. Detective Shaun Dadisman confirmed that recent DNA testing on Smith's clothing and other items did not produce a match to Buell or any other identified individual.
Despite the lack of a definitive match, investigators believe the possibility that Smith's killer is still alive remains viable. The continued investigation underscores a commitment to seeking justice for victims whose cases have remained unsolved for decades. For Smith's surviving relatives, the hope of finally learning the truth about her murder persists.
