Nearly 37 years after the brutal murder and near-decapitation of 29-year-old nurse Teresa Lee Scalf, investigators say they have solved the case.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a Monday afternoon press conference that the the killer has been identified as Scalf’s neighbor, Donald Douglas, who would have been 33 at the time of the incident.
Grady said Douglas was not considered a suspect at the time of the initial investigation after he “provided plausible responses” during routine questioning. He also didn’t have any noticeable injuries and had no criminal history.
According to News Channel 8, Scalf, a nurse at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, was found dead in her Lakeland apartment on October 27, 1986. Family members said Scalf’s mother had to break into her locked apartment, where she found Teresa deceased with her throat slit and signs of defense wounds.
“He cut her head almost off,” Judd said.
Scalf’s 8-year-old son was uninjured and at his grandmother’s house when the murder occurred.
In 2008, Douglas passed away at age 54, reportedly from natural causes. Judd said his body was cremated, making it difficult to tie him to the murder until familial DNA connection cracked the case. Douglas’ distant cousin was linked to DNA from a blood sample found at the crime, via Othram, a Texas-base company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy.
Family members said Scalf had spoken about a “creepy neighbor” prior to her death, but didn’t have the chance to provide additional details. Police say the neighbor was Douglas and the crime was sexually motivated.
“Teresa had told us about some creepy neighbor that had showed up at her house with what looked like he had yanked a flower out of the ground and slapped it into a pot, and he was sort of stalkerish,” her sister, Lynn Scalf, said. “She had told us about him, but she never described him.”
“If you are getting a creepy vibe, don’t just tell your sisters this creepy neighbor is doing weird things. Give a description. If we had had that description the sheriff just showed you, that would have narrowed it right down. Large man, scruffy, 30-ish? Think of what that would have done to the potential pool of suspects.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Feature Photo: Teresa Lee Scalf/Handout]
