A Chance to Help Solve Kristin’s Murder:

Background:

She loved horses, nature, and sitting down and getting to know people.

Kristin O’Connell was born on January 12, 1965, to Phyllis & Michael O’Connell. She was the big sister of Kyle O’Connell, and the family lived in Burnsville, Minnesota. Kristin was beautiful, kind, and described by those closest to her as an “old soul”.

Leading up to Kristin’s Murder

In the summer of 1985, Kristin traveled from her home in Minnesota to Ovid, NY, to visit a young man, Jim. The two had met 5 months earlier in Captiva Island, Florida, and immediately hit it off. After staying in touch through letters and phone calls, Kristin accepted an invitation to stay with Jim and his parents for a week.

Kristin was excited for her trip and hoped she and Jim would enjoy a fun, possibly romantic week at The Finger Lakes. Things took a dramatic turn when Kristin arrived in Ovid. Jim informed her that there was a change of plans and he had rented a small trailer that sat next to The Golden Buck, a neighborhood bar and restaurant. It was later reported by locals that Jim had acted distant toward Kristin and took extra shifts at work, often leaving his guest alone all day.

2 days into her trip, Kristin called home and told her mother she was cutting her trip short. She didn’t elaborate.

The Night of Kristin’s Murder

On Wednesday, August 14th, 1985, Jim and several of his friends were drinking and partying at the trailer. Kristin confided in one of the friends, that she felt Jim was ignoring her. At approximately 11:30 PM, Kristin announced she was going for a walk and she exited the trailer. This wasn’t unusual for Kristin as she would often take night walks to star-gaze and clear her head.

Witnesses later reported seeing a young woman walking down the rural road barefoot. She didn’t appear to be in distress. A little after midnight, witnesses heard what they described as a “blood-curdling” scream coming from the area of a cornfield near Jim’s trailer.

Nobody called the police.

Kristin didn’t return to the trailer that night and neither Jim nor his friends contacted the police. They finally reported her missing the following afternoon, and a search was underway that evening. In later interviews, friends of Jim would provide contradicting stories on why Kristin left the trailer & why she may have been upset. Some witnesses told investigators that Jim had one or two girlfriends in Ovid and had been purposely avoiding Kristin.

Kristin’s Body is Found

As soon as he learned Kristin was missing, Mike O'Connell boarded a plane from Minnesota and flew to New York to help search for his daughter.

Her worried mother and brother waited at home by the phone.

On Friday, August 16th, just after 5 pm, firefighters and police officers came upon Kristin’s body while conducting their search. She was found in the cornfield adjacent to where she’d taken her walk. Kristin had been brutally stabbed and her throat had been cut.

Heavy rain during the night had washed away much of the physical evidence investigators might otherwise have collected.

There is Hope

For decades, Kristin's family has refused to give up.

Today, advances in forensic science offer a chance that simply didn't exist in 1985.

A California laboratory has agreed to conduct advanced DNA testing on key evidence from Kristin's case. Before that testing can begin, however, the O'Connell family must raise $10,000.

Every donation—large or small—helps bring Kristin's family one step closer to answers.A laboratory in California has agreed to test key evidence in Kristin’s case, but the O’Connell family needs help raising the funds.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Kristin’s family. If you can’t donate, please share.

Want to learn more?

I spent nearly a year researching Kristin's case and produced a nine-part investigative podcast series featuring interviews, investigative documents, and conversations with those closest to the case.

Listen here.

Someone knows what happened to Kristin.

Someone has the missing piece.

If you have information—no matter how insignificant it may seem—please contact the New York State Police.

(585)398-4125