Rhonda Marie Fisher (Credit: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. - Colorado investigators said they have solved the 1987 murder of a woman, marking the seventh cold case cracked in as many years after newly analyzed DNA linked the killing to a serial murderer.
Who was Rhonda Marie Fisher?
The backstory:
On April 1, 1987, a motorist spotted the body of Rhonda Marie Fisher down an embankment along South Perry Park Road near Sedalia.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office later determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
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Investigators learned that Fisher was last seen the night before her death, walking north on Monaco toward Leetsdale in Denver.
In the weeks prior, she had been staying with several acquaintances, including one who initially drew investigators’ attention but was later ruled out.
Detectives also reviewed the activities of several serial offenders operating in the Denver area during that era.
In early 2025, the DCSO Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation and conducted a full review of the evidence with assistance from a forensic scientist at the Unified Forensic Lab and staff in Property & Evidence.
In late October, investigators received a case-to-case DNA match through CODIS.
DNA recovered from the paper bags placed over Fisher’s hands—used to protect potential trace material—matched biological evidence from three 1979 homicides in Denver committed by Vincent Darrell Groves.
Who was Vincent Darrell Groves?
Dig deeper:
Groves is regarded as one of Colorado’s most prolific serial killers, with crimes that primarily targeted vulnerable women between 1978 and 1988.
His criminal history included involvement in sex trafficking and drug activity, and although he was convicted of murder in 1982, he served less than five years before being released and committing additional violent offenses.
Vincent Darrell Groves (Credit: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Based on DNA evidence and investigative findings, Groves is believed to be responsible for at least a dozen homicides, an attempted murder, and a sexual assault in the Denver metro area, though investigators suspect the true number of victims is higher.
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Groves died in 1996 while serving time in the Colorado Department of Corrections following convictions for the 1988 murders of Diann Mancera in Douglas County and another victim in Adams County—cases that became among the earliest successful applications of DNA evidence in Colorado courts.
What they're saying:
"While Vincent Groves cannot be held accountable in a court of law, we hope this long-awaited resolution brings answers and a measure of peace to Rhonda Fisher’s family and friends," Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a news release. "This case is a testament to our commitment to pursue justice for every victim—no matter how much time has passed."
"Rhonda Fisher was a mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Her case exemplifies the dedication of DCSO investigators, forensic partners, and cold case specialists who continue to work tirelessly, often for years at a time, to bring closure to families who have endured unimaginable waits."
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release and investigative materials provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, including statements from Sheriff Darren Weekly, details from the agency’s Cold Case Unit, and background on the DNA analysis conducted with the Unified Forensic Lab. This story was reported from Los Angeles.