Albany Police Department and the FBI Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in a 1964 Homicide

After six decades, the suspect in the assault and murder of Catherine Blackburn of Albany, New York has been identified.
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Published October 08, 2025 by Dan Miller
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Summary

In September 1964, 50-year-old Catherine Bik Blackburn was sexually assaulted and murdered in her home on Colonie Street in Albany, New York. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Albany Police Department, and a homicide investigation was opened. Investigators collected a significant amount of evidence, including blood samples, a footprint in the yard, and slips of paper believed to be connected to the killer. Blackburn, a foreman at the Fuller Brush Company, rented out a room in her home and was separated from her husband, who was an Air Corps veteran working in Japan.

Investigators learned that Blackburn had recently cancelled newspaper ads to rent out the room and painted the rental unit the same weekend she was killed. Investigators found a slip of paper with the same numbers as the house, "117" and receipt torn from Catherine's receipt book. Investigators were able to read the name on the missing receipt by examining pen impressions on the next sheet of paper in the book. That name did not lead to any known person and was determined to likely be fictitious. Despite an extensive investigation that went on for years, the case went cold and no suspect was identified.

In 2023, the Albany Police Department, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

With this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. The potential suspect, who had died in 1998, was exhumed and DNA was collected and compared to the DNA from the 1964 crime scene. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Joseph Nowakowski, born in 1931.

Nowakowski died in 1998 after several stints in prison, according to officials. He was convicted of a similar assault of an elderly woman in Schenectady in 1973 and officials believe that Nowakowski is likely connected to other criminal cases in the area.

Advanced DNA testing at Othram was made possible through a grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases.

This case is a reminder that every piece of preserved evidence has the potential to unlock long-awaited answers. If you would like to support efforts to solve more cases like this, consider contributing your DNA data to the DNASolves database which aids law enforcement in identifying suspects and giving families the answers they deserve.

The identification of the suspect represents the 14th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other New York cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

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Dan Miller

Dan Miller

Director of Customer Service

2829 Technology Forest Blvd Suite 100, The Woodlands, Texas 77381
media@othram.com

Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.

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About Othram Inc.

Othram is the world’s first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. Othram’s scientists are experts at ... Read morerecovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace quantities of degraded or contaminated materials. Founded in 2018, and located in The Woodlands, Texas, our team works with academic researchers, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve results when other approaches have failed. Follow Othram on Twitter @OthramTech or visit Othram.com to learn how we can help you with your case. With dnasolves.com anyone can make a difference and help solve the next cold case.