Toledoan found not guilty in cold case murder

12/4/2008

A Toledo man charged for the 1995 strangulation death of a woman found in a North Toledo park was found not guilty of murder Thursday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Dean Randleman, 54, of 2230 Collingwood Blvd., was exonerated for the death of Evelyn Rivers. The 29-year-old woman s body was found in a ravine in Miracle Park on May 17, 1995.

Judge Charles Doneghy listened to the testimony of 14 witnesses over three days before returning with his verdict. The evidence was presented to the judge instead of a jury at the request of Randleman s attorney, David Klucas.

Family members for both Ms. Rivers and Randleman were in the courtroom when the decision was read. Tears formed in the eyes of members of both families some a result of relief, others because of sadness and frustration.

Randleman was arrested Aug. 28 by cold case detectives who reopened the investigation with new DNA evidence. He will be released from the Lucas County jail later Thursday.