They Tested the Evidence for Decades. Then Genetic Genealogy Changed Everything

On the night of November 9th, 1993, 33-year-old Randy Gail Sperino was walking through Granite City, Illinois. Around 8:00 p.m., she was seen getting into a dark-colored late-1970s or early-1980s pickup truck driven by a white man. The truck was then seen traveling west on Rock Road toward Route 3. That was the last known sighting of Randy alive. Approximately three hours later, her body was discovered in a field near Horseshoe Lake Road and Hanfelder Road in unincorporated Granite City. She had suffered fatal injuries. Investigators had a witness. They had a description of the truck. And they had biological evidence from a man. But they didn't have his name. For more than three decades, the DNA profile produced no match in law-enforcement databases. Hundreds of people were interviewed, leads were followed, and the case remained open while Randy's family waited for answers. Then advances in forensic DNA testing changed what investigators could do with the evidence. In 2025, the biological evidence was submitted to Othram, where advanced DNA testing produced a genetic profile that could be used for forensic genetic genealogy. Investigators followed genetic connections through a family tree until they were led to Albert Lee "Buddy" Zigler. The investigation also uncovered a connection to an important clue from 1993: Zigler had lived near the area where Randy's body was discovered and had owned a dark-colored pickup truck matching the general description provided by the witness. Authorities say further DNA testing matched Zigler to the biological evidence recovered from Randy. Prosecutors also say Zigler made statements to investigators describing his encounter with Randy and her death. On May 22, 2026, Zigler was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. A grand jury later indicted him on the same charges. He has not been convicted, and the case remains subject to the court process. In this documentary, we followed Randy Gail Sperino's final known