Oklahoma City police are renewing calls in a cold case that dates back to 1975.
Police said 77-year-old Helen Gordon was at a family's northeast Oklahoma City home on Christmas night of that year. She left late in the evening and never made it home.
"It was about 12 hours later that following day when her body was located at an oil lease in southeast Oklahoma City," said MSgt. Jennifer Wardlow. "She was found face down in a pool of water. She had been beaten, strangled, and raped."
Gordon's car was found a short distance away at that location.
"What investigators believe happened is that the suspects were trying to take her vehicle but got stuck in the mud, so they abandoned the vehicle and ended up leaving," Wardlow said.
Wardlow said a shoe with blood on it was recovered from the scene.
"We do have DNA in this case and we're hopeful that at some point we get enough information to find someone who is a match," she said.
Even though a long time has passed since the crime happened, police remain hopeful.
"This case is nearly 50 years old. We understand it was a long time ago," Wardlow said. "But it's entirely possible that there is still somebody around who has information that at the time they thought was insignificant and didn't mean anything. But hearing this now, it could be that piece that leads to this case being solved and closure for the family."
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