DNA Solves: The Case of Alex James (or Joy Crafts)

1995 - Hampden, Maine. Alex James was somebody who always kept to herself. She was 58, and lived on her own in an apartment in Brewer, Maine. She was doing well for herself after being diagnosed with mental health issues, and just wanted to live in peace. Alex James, who previously went by the name Joy Crafts Earley, never hurt a fly. On a summer evening in June 1995, Alex never came home from an evening stroll. The next day, her body was found near a storage unit, savagely murdered and assaulted. It was a seemingly random attack, and police had no suspects… until years later, when a 24-year-old man named Douglas Littlefield—who had been terrorizing women in the Bangor area—was finally apprehended for his crimes.  This is the story of Alex James, aka Joy Crafts Earley, and how survivors took down a sexual predator, and helped solve a murder. Episode sources and photos: https://murdershetold.com/episodes/alex-james Support the show: https://www.murdershetold.com/support Instagram: @murdershetoldpodcast TikTok: @murdershetold Facebook: /mstpodcast Website: murdershetold.com ------ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices