Tangie Sims – 9 of Diamonds, Colorado

When a young woman was found brutally murdered in an Aurora, Colorado alleyway in October 1996, one eagle-eyed detective zeroed in on forensic evidence he hoped would lead him to her killer. But one by one, that evidence ruled out every person they thought may have killed 25-year-old Tangie Sims and eventually her case went cold. And it stayed cold until new detectives revisited old evidence with new technology, took a look at one particular family tree and finally found who they’d been looking for.

Tangie Sims (9 of Diamonds, Colorado) - Playing Card

Courtesy of Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Episode Info

If you or someone you know is looking for answers in an unsolved case and think there might be a connection to Tangie Sims’ case, contact Aurora Police Department Cold Case Detective Jason McDonald by phone at 303-739-6013 or by email  jamcdona@auroragov.org. You can also submit an anonymous tip to the the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by calling 720-913-7867.

Tangie Sims was just 25-years-old when she was found brutally murdered in an alley in Aurora, Colorado.

Tangie Sims was just 25-years-old when she was found brutally murdered in an alley in Aurora, Colorado. Courtesy: Aurora Police Department.

Aurora police Detective Joe Petrucelli found blood on the leaves of a bush in the alley where Tangie’s body was found. Forensic testing revealed that the blood wasn’t Tangie’s…meaning it likely belonged to her killer.

Aurora police Detective Joe Petrucelli found blood on the leaves of a bush in the alley where Tangie’s body was found. Forensic testing revealed that the blood wasn’t Tangie’s…meaning it likely belonged to her killer. Courtesy: Aurora Police Department.
Tangie Sims was found murdered in an alley in a residential part of Aurora. Her remains had been discarded just to the left of these trash cans.

Tangie Sims was found murdered in an alley in a residential part of Aurora. Her remains had been discarded just to the left of these trash cans. Courtesy: Aurora Police Department.

Investigative genetic genealogist Joan Hanlon used a DNA profile from blood evidence left on Tangie Sims, and near where her remains were discarded, to build out a family tree and identify blood relatives of her killer. She narrowed their suspect’s genealogy down to one family in North Dakota. Their family tree is seen here, with all names redacted except or the suspect, Wesley Backman, and relatives who died more than 100 years ago.

Investigative genetic genealogist Joan Hanlon used a DNA profile from blood evidence left on Tangie Sims, and near where her remains were discarded, to build out a family tree and identify blood relatives of her killer. She narrowed their suspect’s genealogy down to one family in North Dakota. Their family tree is seen here, with all names redacted except or the suspect, Wesley Backman, and relatives who died more than 100 years ago. Courtesy: Joan Hanlon.
Through DNA evidence left behind at the scene, investigative genetic genealogy and a DNA sample from a close relative, investigators were able to identify Tangie Sims’ killer as Wesley Backman, a long-haul trucker. He had died years before the case was solved.

Through DNA evidence left behind at the scene, investigative genetic genealogy and a DNA sample from a close relative, investigators were able to identify Tangie Sims’ killer as Wesley Backman, a long-haul trucker. He had died years before the case was solved. Courtesy: Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes VIA CBS.
Detective Michael Prince led the investigation into Tangie Sims’ cold case. By revisiting old evidence, he was finally able to identify her killer. Prince died in 2022.

Detective Michael Prince led the investigation into Tangie Sims’ cold case. By revisiting old evidence, he was finally able to identify her killer. Prince died in 2022. Courtesy: Horan & McConaty Funeral Services and Cremation.

Episode Source Material

Original reporting by Taylor Hartz