The Prince George’s County Police Department has charged a suspect in the 1979 cold case murder of Arlington resident Kathryn Donohue. The suspect is 82-year-old Rodger Zodas Brown of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Donohue, 31, was found dead in a parking lot in Glenarden, Maryland, having been raped and strangled. The PGPD’s Homicide Unit opened an “extensive, years-long investigation,” but the case remained unsolved for more than 45 years.
Advancements in DNA and genetic genealogy offered new information that helped the Cold Case Unit identify the suspect. In late 2024, investigators identified a relative of the suspect through DNA evidence. Further investigation narrowed down possible relatives and eventually identified Brown as the suspect.
Brown lived in Hyattsville, Maryland, at the time of the murder. Though the investigation is still ongoing, there is no known connection between the victim and the suspect.
Brown was arrested at his home in North Carolina and has been charged with murder, rape, and related charges. He is in custody in North Carolina pending extradition to Prince George’s County.
Donohue’s family released the following statement after Brown’s arrest in the cold case murder:
“The entire Donohue family would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in this investigation, especially the men and women of the Prince George’s County Police Department, for their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to seeking justice.
We will always be grateful for their determination, their compassion, and their relentless pursuit of the truth which has finally given us a sense of closure that we never thought possible after all this time.”
Feature image of Kathryn Donohue courtesy Prince George’s County Police Department
