Guilty Plea After 23 Years of Brutal Crime: Eugene Gligor Found Guilty in Leslie Prear's Murder

In a dramatic turn of events, 45-year-old Eugene Gligor has pleaded guilty to the 2001 murder of 50-year-old Leslie Prear, a homemaker who was found dead in her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The confession came in a Maryland court, marking the end of a 23-year-long investigation filled with uncertainty and unanswered questions.

Leslie Prear was discovered dead in the bathroom of her home on May 2, 2001, after she failed to show up for work. Her body was found covered in blood, with signs of physical assault and strangulation. Though an unknown DNA sample was recovered from the crime scene, authorities were unable to identify the suspect for years.

A major breakthrough came in 2024 with the help of advanced forensic genealogy techniques. Using modern DNA analysis, investigators linked the crime to Eugene Gligor, the former boyfriend of Leslie's daughter, Lauren. The two had been in a relationship in 1998. Following the murder, Gligor remained in hiding for nearly two decades.

He was arrested in June 2024, and his DNA was matched with the samples collected from the crime scene. Gligor has now pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and faces up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 28.