INVESTIGATIVE CASE DOSSIER: THE CHRISTY MIRACK MURDER: HOW CECE MOORE & GEDMATCH UNMASKED DJ FREEZ AFTER 26 YEARS
- Victim: Christy Ann Mirack (Age 25; Sixth-Grade Elementary Teacher)
- Date of Crime: December 21, 1992 (Morning hours)
- Location of Crime: Townhouse in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, PA
- Perpetrator: Raymond Charles Rowe / ‘DJ Freez’ (Born 1968; Well-Known Local DJ)
- Cause of Death: Strangulation and blunt force trauma following sexual assault
- Breakthrough Method: Investigative Genetic Genealogy (CeCe Moore & Parabon NanoLabs)
- Date of Arrest: June 25, 2018 (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
- Sentence: Life in prison without parole plus 60 to 120 consecutive years (Plea in Jan 2019)
On the morning of December 21, 1992, 25-year-old beloved elementary school teacher Christy Mirack was found savagely beaten, sexually assaulted, and strangled inside her Lancaster County, Pennsylvania townhouse just days before Christmas. For over twenty-five years, the case remained one of the most agonizing unsolved homicides in Central Pennsylvania. In June 2018, renowned genetic genealogist CeCe Moore and Parabon NanoLabs applied cutting-edge investigative genetic genealogy, pinpointing a popular local celebrity who had spent decades in the community spotlight: Raymond Charles Rowe, known across the region as ‘DJ Freez.’
The Brutal Crime in East Lampeter: December 1992
Christy Mirack was a passionate sixth-grade teacher at Rohrerstown Elementary School. When she failed to arrive for class on December 21, 1992, the school principal drove to her Greenfield Estates townhouse to check on her well-being. Finding the front door unlocked, the principal stepped inside and discovered Christy lying motionless in the living room.
Autopsy findings confirmed that Christy had been violently assaulted, beaten with a cutting board, and strangled with her own sweater. Physical evidence was recovered and preserved, including DNA from the perpetrator’s biological material left on her body and clothing. Despite hundreds of interviews and DNA swabs collected from local residents, no matches were ever found in CODIS.
The 2018 Genetic Genealogy Investigation
In early 2018, Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman authorized Parabon NanoLabs and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore to analyze the crime scene DNA profile via GEDmatch. Within hours of uploading the SNP profile, Moore identified several second- and third-cousin matches of Puerto Rican and Italian descent.
By cross-referencing ancestral marriage certificates and social media records, Moore mapped the family tree to a specific set of siblings raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. One of those individuals was 49-year-old Raymond Charles Rowe, a fixture in the local music and nightlife scene who performed as ‘DJ Freez’ at high school proms, weddings, and corporate events.
Covert DNA Collection at a High School Event
In May 2018, undercover Pennsylvania State Police detectives and Lancaster County investigators attended a DJ event where Rowe was performing at a local elementary school. Detectives covertly retrieved a discarded plastic water bottle and chewing gum wrapper discarded by Rowe.
The DNA on the water bottle and gum wrapper matched the 1992 crime scene DNA profile with statistical certainty exceeding 1 in 100 quintillion.
Guilty Plea and Closure
On June 25, 2018, Rowe was arrested at his home. In January 2019, Rowe pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, rape, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole plus an additional 60 to 120 years in state prison. The case demonstrated how genetic genealogy could solve cases with suspects who had zero prior criminal records.
Explore related landmark forensic breakthroughs and genetic genealogy investigations including the April Tinsley 1988 cold case, the Bear Brook Murders, the Carla Walker Fort Worth cold case, and the 1987 Van Cuylenborg-Cook murders.
Forensic Serology & Crime Scene Processing in Lancaster
On the morning of December 21, 1992, twenty-five-year-old elementary school teacher Christy Mirack was found brutally murdered inside her townhouse on Schoolhouse Road in East Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania. She had been sexually assaulted, severely beaten, and strangled with her own sweater. Lancaster County detectives and Pennsylvania State Police forensic experts collected semen swabs and physical evidence from the scene, preserving them in climate-controlled storage.
In the late 1990s, an STR DNA profile was generated and entered into CODIS, but no matching offender was identified over the next two decades.
Parabon Snapshot, Genetic Genealogy & The DJ Freez Arrest
In 2018, Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman authorized genetic genealogy testing with Parabon NanoLabs. Parabon generated a Snapshot phenotyping composite and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore mapped family trees on GEDmatch, identifying popular Lancaster area disc jockey Raymond Charles Rowe (known professionally as “DJ Freez”).
Undercover detectives conducted surveillance at an event where Rowe was performing at an elementary school in May 2018, retrieving a discarded water bottle and chewing gum. State police crime lab testing confirmed an exact STR match to the 1992 crime scene semen. In January 2019, Raymond Rowe pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Lancaster County DA Investigation & The Conviction of Raymond Rowe
The 1992 murder of schoolteacher Christy Mirack in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was resolved twenty-six years later through Parabon Snapshot phenotyping and genetic genealogy. CeCe Moore identified popular local DJ Raymond Charles Rowe (“DJ Freez”).
Undercover detectives retrieved a discarded water bottle and chewing gum from Rowe, confirming a 100% STR match to the crime scene semen. In 2019, Rowe pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Lancaster County Cold Case Resolution & The Conviction of DJ Freez
The 2019 guilty plea of Raymond Charles Rowe for the 1992 murder of Christy Mirack brought a shocking conclusion to Lancaster County’s most famous cold case. District Attorney Craig Stedman and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore utilized Parabon Snapshot phenotyping to identify Rowe, who had lived as a prominent local DJ for decades following the crime.
Rowe’s mandatory life sentence without parole delivered long-awaited justice for the beloved elementary school teacher and her family.
Lancaster Townhouse Serology & Parabon Snapshot Phenotyping
The 1992 murder of teacher Christy Mirack was solved twenty-six years later when Parabon NanoLabs and CeCe Moore mapped family trees on GEDmatch to identify local DJ Raymond Charles Rowe (“DJ Freez”).
Undercover DNA Collection & Mandatory Life Sentence
Detectives collected a discarded water bottle and chewing gum at an event where Rowe was DJing, confirming an exact STR match. In 2019, Rowe pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received life without parole.
Parabon Snapshot Phenotyping & The Conviction of DJ Freez
The 1992 murder of schoolteacher Christy Mirack in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was resolved twenty-six years later through Parabon Snapshot phenotyping and genetic genealogy conducted by CeCe Moore, identifying local DJ Raymond Charles Rowe (“DJ Freez”).
Undercover detectives retrieved a discarded water bottle and chewing gum from Rowe, confirming an exact STR match that led to his guilty plea and mandatory life imprisonment without parole.
Lancaster County District Attorney Cold Case Protocol
The resolution of Christy Mirack’s 1992 homicide demonstrated the precision of Parabon Snapshot phenotyping. District Attorney Craig Stedman and CeCe Moore traced kinship matches on GEDmatch directly to Raymond Charles Rowe, whose guilty plea in 2019 delivered mandatory life imprisonment without parole.
The Enduring Memory of Christy Mirack in East Lampeter
Colleagues and students at Rohrerstown Elementary School established memorial scholarships honoring Christy Mirack’s dedication to teaching, ensuring that her life and legacy continue to inspire future educators across Lancaster County.
Lancaster County Criminal Justice Benchmarks
The guilty plea of Raymond Charles Rowe for the 1992 murder of Christy Mirack highlighted the transformative impact of Parabon Snapshot phenotyping on municipal police investigations throughout Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County Cold Case Homicide Unit Standards
The conviction of Raymond Charles Rowe for the 1992 murder of Christy Mirack reinforced the value of integrating advanced DNA phenotyping into active municipal cold case investigations.
East Lampeter Township Police Department Investigative Archive
The conviction of Raymond Charles Rowe for the murder of Christy Mirack demonstrated that municipal police departments can leverage advanced bioinformatics and genetic genealogy to achieve conclusive resolutions in decades-old violent cold cases.
Case Timeline & Key Forensic Milestones
| Date / Year | Milestone / Event | Forensic Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 1992 | Christy Mirack murdered in Lancaster County, PA | Biological evidence preserved by Pennsylvania State Police |
| 2018 | Parabon NanoLabs & CeCe Moore analyze DNA | Genetic genealogy links crime scene DNA to family of Raymond Rowe |
| May 2018 | Covert DNA collection from water bottle and gum | DNA confirms exact match to DJ Freez |
| June 25, 2018 | Raymond Charles Rowe arrested | Charged with first-degree murder |
| Jan 8, 2019 | Rowe pleads guilty and is sentenced to life without parole | Complete closure delivered after 26 years |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who was DJ Freez and why was he famous?
Raymond Rowe, performing as DJ Freez, was a well-known local music DJ in Lancaster, PA, who performed at weddings, school dances, and regional events for decades.
How was Raymond Rowe identified in the Christy Mirack case?
CeCe Moore used GEDmatch to construct a family tree connecting distant cousins, pinpointing Rowe as the only suspect matching the geographic and ancestral profile.
What sentence did Raymond Rowe receive?
Rowe pleaded guilty in January 2019 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 60 to 120 years.
