An Alabama inmate, Steven Fike, is set to plead guilty to manslaughter in connection with a 1980 murder case in Boston, as reported by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. This development comes after Fike, now 67 years old, had previously entered a plea of not guilty in 2019 for the killing of 19-year-old Wendy Dansereau.
Unraveling a Decades-Old Mystery
On the fateful day of March 18, 1980, the body of Wendy Dansereau was discovered in a room at the Hotel Diplomat in Boston’s South End. The tragic scene revealed signs of sexual assault and strangulation, leaving investigators and loved ones searching for answers for over four decades.
Despite the passage of time, advancements in forensic technology played a crucial role in cracking this cold case. A DNA sample collected during the initial stages of the investigation ultimately led to a breakthrough when it was entered into the FBI’s national DNA database. The database flagged a match with Steven Fike’s genetic profile, linking him to the crime scene.
From Past Convictions to Present Confessions
Steven Fike’s connection to the 1980 murder in Boston was not his first encounter with the criminal justice system. Prior to this recent development, Fike had been convicted of a heinous crime in Alabama back in 1982, involving the rape and murder of another victim. This earlier conviction resulted in Fike receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
Now, facing the impending court date on March 12 in Suffolk Superior Court, Fike is expected to change his plea from not guilty to guilty for the manslaughter of Wendy Dansereau. The resolution of this decades-old case brings a sense of closure to the victim’s family and sheds light on the intricate web of justice that spans state lines and historical timelines.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the truth behind this tragic chapter in Boston’s history continues to come to light, underscoring the importance of perseverance and dedication in seeking justice for victims of unsolved crimes. The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they never stop in their pursuit of truth and accountability.
