A murder case in Miramar, Florida, that had remained unsolved for 37 years has finally been resolved thanks to a breakthrough in DNA analysis. The case dates back to October 21, 1986, when 28-year-old William 'Billy' Halpern was brutally murdered in his Miramar home. Halpern, a former firefighter and avid bodybuilder who worked at a gym in Hollywood, Florida, was the victim of a heinous crime that had long gone unpunished.
In January of this year, investigators decided to revisit the case after discovering partial DNA profiles that could be analyzed. Miramar Police Detective Danny Smith, who spearheaded the reinvestigation, made a public appeal for information, emphasizing the importance of DNA evidence in solving the case.
Following the renewed interest in the case, Detective Smith received valuable tips from the community, ultimately leading to the identification of Harrier Collier, now deceased, as one of the individuals responsible for Halpern's murder. Police believe that Halpern may have stumbled upon information that someone was willing to kill to keep hidden.
Further investigations revealed a potential connection between Halpern's murder and two other homicides near a former gym in Tamarac. The crime scenes bore striking similarities, prompting authorities to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
While Collier has been implicated in Halpern's murder, the case remains open as investigators suspect the involvement of additional individuals who may have ordered or been complicit in the crime. The gym's owner, Gil Fernandez, initially a suspect in Halpern's murder, was later convicted of a separate murder but could not be linked through DNA evidence.
The investigation into Halpern's death has shed light on a complex web of events, suggesting that there may be more arrests to come as authorities continue to pursue leads and seek justice for the victim. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers to assist in the ongoing investigation.
