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AUSTIN, Texas — After more than four decades, a suspect has been indicted
for the 1980 kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of Susan Leigh Wolfe.

Deck Brewer Jr., 78, was arrested by the Austin Police Department in
connection to Wolfe's death back in August, before his indictment earlier
this week.

"There is justice to be served," said Austin Criminal Attorney Alan
Bennett, "It brings closure to the family, it brings closure to the case."

The break in the case came through advancements in DNA technology.

"What an accomplishment, to have a case solved after 44 years due to
science," said Charles Wolfe, Susan's brother, during an interview was CBS Austin shortly after the arrest was made.

According to arrest records, on January 9, 1980, a witness, Jeffrey Paul Williamson, contacted the APD, reporting that he had seen Wolfe being
abducted.

Williamson reported Wolfe, a woman in her mid-twenties, was walking down Franklin Avenue when a white over-maroon car with passenger-side damage
stopped beside her. The driver then grabbed Wolfe, covered her head with a coat, and forced her into the vehicle.

Wolfe's body was found the next morning in an alley on East 17th Street.
An autopsy determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the
head.

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The case went cold for many years despite the efforts of investigators. However, a recent review of the case led investigators to submit DNA
evidence from Wolfe's autopsy to the Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Laboratory in 2023.

The DNA profile generated from this evidence was matched to Deck Brewer
Jr., 78, who was serving time in Massachusetts for unrelated drug crimes.

Further investigation revealed that Brewer had been arrested in Texas in
1980, shortly after Wolfe's murder.

At the time of his arrest, Brewer was driving a 1969 Dodge Polara, a car
model that closely resembles the description given by the eyewitness in
1980.

Authorities obtained a warrant for a DNA sample from Brewer, and the
results confirmed that his DNA matched the DNA found on Wolfe's body.

"They just hadn't had sufficient evidence to take the case to trial," said Bennett, "Now that they have that DNA evidence, they do have enough
evidence to take it to trial."

During questioning, Brewer admitted to being in Austin and San Antonio
around the time of the murder.

Deck Brewer Jr. is now facing charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, and capital murder in connection with Susan Leigh Wolfe's death.

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student

Bennett is not affiliated with the case but has been following its developments.

He said the jury in this case will review the DNA evidence and will be
required to set aside their sympathy for Brewer, a now elderly man, facing
a capital murder charge.

"He cannot escape the advancements in DNA, and he may be elderly, but [the prosecution will argue] he committed this offense," said Bennett.

"Even if he is sentenced to prison and he lives one day in prison before
dying of natural causes, there is the sentiment that justice was served by bringing him the trial," he continued.

Charles Wolfe told CBS Austin the timing of this indictment is
particularly special, as it's near Susan's birthday and the 45th
anniversary of her death.

Brewer's next court date is set for December 16th.

https://cbsaustin.com/newsletter-daily/suspect-indicted-in-44-year-old- cold-case-of-1980-ut-austin-nursing-student-murder#

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