Arrest Made In 1991 Philadelphia Cold Case Murder: Authorities

PHILADELPHIA — An arrest has been made in connection with a nearly 30-year-old murder case, according to Philadelphia authorities.

District Attorney Larry Krasner Tuesday announced the arrest of Theodore Dill Donahue, 52, in connection with the 1991 murder of Denise Kulb, 27.

Donahue was arrested Sept. 3 and charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, and more, Krasner said.

State Police Trooper Andrew Martin led the investigation after picking it back up in 2015.

Interviews led authorities to Donahue's arrest due to contradictory statements.

State Police used new investigative tools, including photo-enhancing technology to connect a pair of separated socks, to rebuild the case.

Kulb disappeared in October 1991 and her body was found in November that year Chadds Ford Township.

Kulb, described as Donahue’s girlfriend, moved into his apartment on the 200 block of Salaignac Street in the Wissahickon section of Philadelphia in early October 1991.

Two weeks later, she moved out.

According to Donahue’s original statement that he gave to the police, he last saw Kulb on Oct. 18, 1991, when they purchased and ingested crack, were robbed at knifepoint, and she ran to get help, Krasner's office said.

Donahue then stated that after Kulb left the scene, he never saw her again, according to Krasner.

But in 2015, when Donahue was re-interviewed by state police, he gave a different account, stating that the last time he saw Kulb was outside of a bar on Oct. 18, 1991, Krasner said.

She was seen alive by family members at a funeral on Oct. 19, 1991, and when her sister was later interviewed about the events of that day, she stated that Kuln got in a fight with Donahue outside of the bar where the sister was employed, according to Krasner.

Phone records show that Donahue and Kulb talked before they met on Oct. 19, 1991, Krasner's office said. This was the last day Kulb was seen alive.

On Nov. 15, 1991, state police searched Donahue’s apartment and found one yellow sock that matched the sock found at the crime scene and a job application with Kulb’s name on it, Krasner said.

The photos of the socks were later enhanced to make the connection between the apartment and the crime scene.

That same day Donahue was interviewed, denying any involvement or knowledge of Kulb’s death, and admitting that his nickname was "Ted Bundy."

Over the next two days, Donahue called the Pennsylvania State Police to ask about the autopsy results and confronted Pennsylvania State Troopers in what was reported to be a nervous manner to offer help with the investigation.

In an interview, a friend stated that Donahue, in a past conversation, said that Kulb was "not coming back."

Over the next several years, Donahue and other potential witnesses were interviewed or re-interviewed.

In multiple interviews conducted state police in 2015 and 2016, Donahue and other potential witnesses noted how frequently Donahue referenced Kulb, how he would give her old clothing away, and how Donahue stayed at a motel that was just over a mile from the crime scene several times a year, Krasner's office said.

The interviews also recreated Donahue’s retelling of how his old girlfriend was found face-down in the woods strangled to death, revealing details that no one but an eyewitness to the crime scene or the perpetrator should have known, according to Krasner's office.

Following his arrest this morning, Donahue is being held at Pennsylvania State Police Troop K without bail, Krasner's office said.