50 Years Later: Family Finds Mother's Killer

More than 50 years after Barbara Waldman was murdered in her Long Island, New York, home in 1974, her family’s unwavering determination has led to the identification of her killer. Police matched DNA evidence and photographs to a man who resided in her neighborhood at the time of the tragic event.

A Decades-Long Wait for Answers

Marla Waldman Conn was enjoying a family vacation in Missouri when a New York detective delivered the news she had waited decades to hear: “We have a match.” The call related to the 1974 homicide of her mother, Barbara Waldman. Fifty years later, crime scene DNA was linked to a man who lived in Waldman’s Oceanside neighborhood.

The Discovery and Initial Investigation

Barbara Waldman was found shot in the head on January 11, 1974. Her youngest son, Eric, discovered her body after returning home from kindergarten, recalling a haunting image of his mother lying in a rose-covered bathrobe with her hands tied behind her back. Neighbors reported seeing a man near the house on the day of the murder, and police created a sketch of a man wearing a snorkel coat.

A Family's Perseverance

Despite the case going cold, Barbara Waldman’s children – Marla, Larry, and Eric – refused to give up on finding answers. Their father, Dr. Gerry Waldman, remarried six months after Barbara’s death, and the children initially struggled to discuss their mother’s murder. “We didn’t talk about it,” Eric said, adding that pictures of Barbara were removed from the house.

Renewed Hope and DNA Advances

As the children grew older, their desire to understand what happened to their mother intensified. In 2004, their father provided a DNA sample, which ultimately ruled him out as a suspect. Marla became particularly focused on the case, regularly contacting the Nassau County Police Department and following true crime developments.

The Breakthrough and Identification

A potential break came in December 2022 when serial killer Richard Cottingham confessed to multiple Long Island murders. This prompted the reopening of Barbara Waldman’s case and the extraction of a full DNA profile from the crime scene evidence. The DNA did not match Cottingham’s, but Marla successfully advocated for the FBI’s involvement and the use of investigative genetic genealogy.

Thomas Generazio Identified as the Killer

After a year and a half, the FBI identified Thomas Generazio, a former resident of the neighborhood, as a DNA match. Generazio, who had a prior arrest record for assault and theft, died of cancer in 2004. Marla’s investigation uncovered a photograph of Generazio wearing a coat similar to the one depicted in the original police sketch.

Closure After More Than 50 Years

The Nassau County Police Department announced in February 2024 that Thomas Generazio was responsible for Barbara Waldman’s homicide. While the news couldn’t bring Barbara back, it provided a sense of closure for her children. “Being able to say it to the world…that felt so rewarding,” Marla said. Eric added, “I’m happy because we don’t have to wonder now who did it.”

Marla and Eric hope their story will inspire other families to persevere in seeking justice for their loved ones. “There is an answer to every single murder,” Marla stated. “Someone knows something.”