TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- Nearly 40 years later, the hunt for a killer continues in the City of Tonawanda.
"We're reminded daily of the tragedy of the Morningstar family by a picture of Lynn in the bureau," said Michael Rogers, Captain of the City of Tonawanda Police Department's Detective Bureau. "That reminds us of our objective, and that is to bring the killer to justice."
Lynn Morningstar was stabbed to death March 19, 1978 in what police describe as a brutal murder. Her body was discovered at her apartment on Delaware Street by her boyfriend. Morningstar was 27.
On the 37th anniversary of her death, police they continue to use every available resource to investigate.
"We are in the process of re-interviewing every single witness that's still available. New witnesses have also come forward. Just recently, we've interviewed at least two witnesses that have shed new light onto this situation," said City of Tonawanda Police Chief William Strassburg.
The chief said police reopened the case in 2013, and in 2014, it became the first one presented to the FBI's Cold Case Working Group, which added resources and perspective.
"A lot of fresh ideas came forward for investigative leads that have been followed up on to advance this case forward," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Boetig.
Boetig said sometimes time is an asset, with scientific developments such as DNA testing and the advances of technology.
"Luckily back then, the detectives, my colleagues in the past, were vigilant and they collected items that appeared, would possibly have no value at the time, that has value due to science and technology," said Rogers.
As for suspects or persons of interest in the case:
"Everybody and anybody who was part of her circle is a consideration and we're working to continue the process of elimination," Rogers said.
Police said they've already started that through DNA testing, and have eliminated a few persons of interest from the original investigation.
While Strassburg doesn't have a timetable for solving the case, he said they're "closer today than we were a week ago," and the chief said they're not giving up.