CASPER — The homicide of Casper native Teree Becker has been solved after more than 48 years, the Westminster Colorado Police Department announced Wednesday.
Years of effort and genetic genealogy are credited for identifying Thomas Elliott as Becker’s killer.
Becker grew up in Casper with her parents, a brother and a sister. She was a graduate of Kelly Walsh High School and worked for a newspaper for a time. She moved to Denver shortly after graduating.
“Her family said that she often lived life on the edge. They said she never met a stranger and would hold a conversation with anyone. Teree enjoyed painting, and listening to music. Her favorite bands were Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf,” the statement read.
Becker was last seen alive on Dec. 4, 1975, when she was hitchhiking to Brighton, Colorado, to see her boyfriend, who was incarcerated at the Adams County jail. Her body was found two days later in a field near 100th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard in Westminster, Colorado.
“It appeared that Teree’s body had been dumped in the field, along with her clothing and personal items. During her autopsy, it was determined Teree had been raped, and her cause of death was asphyxiation,” the police department said in a Wednesday Facebook post.