Cold Case Unit Solves 1982 Murder of Mary Ann Finegan And Attempted
Murder and Rape of 38-Year-Old Female

Richard Wilson Faces Death Penalty

The Office's Cold Case Unit has solved the 1982 murder of 42-year-old Mary Ann Finegan and the attempted murder and rape of a then 38-year-old female. The investigation has resulted in the indictment against Richard A. Wilson. He faces the death penalty.

"Bringing criminals to Justice has been the number one priority of this office for more than eleven years since I have served as Prosecutor. In those 11 years, my office has indicted more than 180,000 defendants with more than 90% of these cases resulting in convictions," said Prosecutor Mason. "Due to the diligence of our assistant prosecuting attorneys and support staff, only ¼ of one percent of all cases have been dismissed because of insufficient evidence. As a result of this office's zealous approach to crimes like this, the Mary Ann Finegan murder is resolved."

Lee Weisenmiller, Treasurer of Coventry Local Schools, in Akron said, "Mary Ann Finegan was a respected and beloved classroom teacher and guidance counselor for 16 years at the Coventry Local Schools. The students and adults she came in contact with were her life and reason for her existence. A memorial scholarship was formed in her name for high-school seniors aspiring to go to college who best exemplify her leadership, ideals, and character."  

On June 5, 1982, Richard Wilson abducted Mary Ann Finegan and a 38-year-old female from the area of W. 6th Street and St. Clair Avenue, in Cleveland. Wilson jumped into the front seat of Ms. Finegan's pick-up truck, where the 38-year-old victim was a passenger, and produced a handgun.  He ordered Ms. Finegan to stop in the area of W. 3rd St. (south of Starkweather Ave.) in the industrial flats.  

Wilson ordered them to undress. When the 38-year-old female refused, Wilson fatally shot Ms. Finegan in the side of her head. He raped the 38-year-old female and then shot her twice, once in the neck and once in the chest. Wilson left her there to die. Both victims were found approximately 15 hours later by a security guard. The surviving victim was treated at Metro General Hospital.

The Cold Case Unit reopened the Mary Ann Finegan murder case in 2009. The investigation led to a match of Richard Wilson's DNA to biological evidence collected from the crime scene. Wilson was indicted on 16 counts: aggravated murder (x2), attempted aggravated murder (x2), rape (x1), attempted rape, (x1), kidnapping (x6), and aggravated robbery (x4).

With a grant from the Department of Justice and the Office of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, Prosecutor Mason created the Cold Case Unit that consists of a Director (former Major Trial Supervisor), an assistant major trial prosecutor, a paralegal, the Chief Investigator of the Prosecutor's Office, two retired Homicide Detective, and a retired Major Trial Prosecutor. The office recently received a $500,000 grant to continue its work in solving cold cases.

The Cold Case Unit works with Cleveland Police Detectives from the Homicide and Sex Crime Units as well as BCI and the Coroner's Office. This DNA grant provides for the investigation into and the collection of evidence that contains biological material that may solve through the use of DNA.