Oregon Man Confesses to 1979 Boston Murder Thanks To New DNA Evidence

A chilling confession has led to the closure of a decades-old cold case in Boston. John Michael Irmer, a 68-year-old man from Oregon, has been extradited to Massachusetts after confessing to the 1979 brutal murder and rape of Susan Marcia Rose, a 24-year-old woman from Pennsylvania.
 
 District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced that Irmer is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court Central Division this coming Monday. The startling revelation came when Irmer voluntarily walked into the Portland FBI field office last month, confessing to a crime that had gone unresolved for nearly 44 years.
 
 Irmer confessed that he met a woman with red hair, now identified as Susan Marcia Rose, at a skating rink in Boston around Halloween 1979. The two ventured into 285 Beacon Street, a building that was under renovation at the time. In a brutal act, Irmer admitted that he seized a hammer within the building and struck Rose on the head, which led to her death. Subsequently, he raped her. After the crime, he hastily fled to New York.
 
 Upon investigating Irmer's claims, authorities found them to align with the case of Susan Marcia Rose. She was discovered dead at the Beacon Street location on October 30, 1979, having suffered multiple blunt injuries to the head, resulting in skull fractures and lacerations to the brain. Crucially, a DNA sample collected from Irmer matched samples preserved from the crime scene, solidifying the connection.
 
 Tragically, Rose, originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, had relocated to Boston and was residing on Dartmouth Street at the time of her untimely death. Adding to the complexity of the case, another individual had been previously charged and tried for her murder in 1981, only to be found not guilty.
 
 In an emotional statement, District Attorney Kevin Hayden remarked, “Nearly 44 years after losing her at such a young age, the family and friends of Susan Marcia Rose will finally have some answers. This was a brutal, ice-blooded murder made worse by the fact that a person was charged and tried—and fortunately, found not guilty—while the real murderer remained silent until now. No matter how cold cases get resolved, it’s always the answers that are important for those who have lived with grief and loss and so many agonizing questions.”
 
 Boston Police have also confirmed that there was a standing warrant for Irmer's arrest from Boston Municipal Court. He made his first appearance in court on Monday, Sept. 11, for his arraignment, as reported by Boston.com. During this hearing, a startling twist occurred when Irmer allegedly confessed to another murder in a different state. Following these revelations, he was ordered to be held without bail.
 
 This case stands as a poignant reminder of the impact unresolved crimes have on families and communities. The revelations also emphasize the importance of revisiting cold cases, and the potential for justice, even after many years. The turn of events offers a semblance of closure to the loved ones of Susan Marcia Rose, who have lived with uncertainty and pain for over four decades.
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