The Rock County Sheriff’s Office is renewing its efforts to solve a suspicious death case that was first categorized as an accidental death.
On the afternoon of Sept. 18, 2011, 91-year-old Marjorie Sands of Beloit, was discovered dead in the home where she lived alone at 2236 E. West Hart Road. Her daughter, Mariann Murphy, found the body and called her older brother, Kenneth Sands.
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The Rock County Deputy Coroner determined the cause of death to be “accidental blunt force trauma to the head” consistent with a fall. Five days after Mrs. Sands’ death however, the Sheriff’s Office received information from family members that brought the accidental death theory into question.
“Too many things came up that we weren’t comfortable with,” Kenneth Sands told the Beloit Daily News.
Sands said that the family gave its permission for Mrs. Sands’ body to be exhumed for an autopsy. The Dane County forensic pathologist who performed the postmortem exam discovered “inconsistencies with the initial ruling of the cause of death.”
At that point the Rock County Detective Bureau began investigating Mrs. Sands’ death as a possible homicide.
“There should have been an autopsy right off the bat,” Kenneth Sands said. “The sheriff’s department has done a great job for what they have to work with.”
Commander Troy Knudson of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office said that while the Sands investigation is a high priority case, there have been no notable breakthroughs in recent months.
“This may change when we get DNA results back from the State Crime Lab,” he said.
Captain Todd Christiansen of the Rock County Detective Bureau said the first round of DNA that they collected yielded “no significant results.”
He said that his department sent another DNA sample to the lab about two-and-a-half weeks ago.
“These were elimination samples. We did this second round because when we first collected samples, we hadn’t been able to contact everyone yet,” Christiansen said. “The second round included persons known to the family.”
Christiansen said that results from the state lab usually come back to individual departments in a couple months.
“It all depends on how busy the lab is,” he said. “To us this is high priority, but because it is an older case, the lab will have to give priority to any fresh homicides that come in.”
“Once the DNA results come back, we will decide on our next steps. In the meantime, we’re continuing to follow up the leads on this case,” he said.
The family of Marjorie Sands will soon offer a reward alongside money offered by Crime Stoppers for information that leads to anyone responsible in the death.
Kenneth Sands said the Sheriff’s Office has recommended they keep the exact amount confidential. The Sheriff’s Office as a rule does not get involved in private rewards. Family members are working closely with the Sheriff’s Office and Area Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information on the case may contact the Rock County Sheriff’s Office at 608-757-2244. Callers can ask to remain anonymous. They may also submit anonymous tips through the Greater Beloit Area Crime Stoppers at 608-362-7463 or Janesville Crime Stoppers at 608-756-3636 or online at www.gbacrimestoppers.com or www.stopjanesvillecrime.com .
Meanwhile, Marjorie Sands’ family waits for closure.
“It’s an unusual situation having someone my mother’s age die this way,” Kenneth Sands said.
Mrs. Sands, a former homemaker, used to run the family farm alongside her husband, Edwin, who predeceased her. She had been an active member of the community who enjoyed handiwork such as knitting and crocheting. She was known to be an avid Milwaukee Braves fan and also a supporter of he Milwaukee Brewers.
“A person lives to be 91 years old and you pray that something like this would never happen,” Kenneth Sands said.
He and his sister hope that anyone responsible for their mother’s death will be found soon and brought to justice.
