The Murder of Leslie Preer

Leslie Preer was a beloved figure in Chevy Chase, known for her warmth and dedication to her family and community. On May 2, 2001, she failed to show up for work, prompting a colleague to check on her. What they found was a scene of unimaginable horror: Preer’s body in an upstairs bedroom, bearing signs of severe beating and strangulation. The Montgomery County Police Department quickly classified her death as a homicide, and a crime scene investigation revealed blood evidence, including traces found beneath Preer’s fingernails, suggesting she fought her attacker. Despite an exhaustive initial investigation, no suspects were identified, and the case went cold, leaving Preer’s family, including her daughter Lauren, without answers for over two decades.

The Cold Case Investigation

For 23 years, Leslie Preer’s murder remained one of Montgomery County’s most perplexing unsolved cases. The police continued to pursue leads, and in 2022, they offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, but no breakthroughs emerged. However, advancements in forensic genetic genealogy—a technique that combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to build family trees and identify suspects—offered new hope. In September 2022, blood evidence from the crime scene, preserved since 2001, was submitted to a lab for analysis. This process led investigators to Eugene Gligor, a man who had been living in Washington, D.C., and had a surprising connection to the Preer family.

The DNA Breakthrough

Eugene Gligor, born in 1980, had dated Lauren Preer, Leslie’s daughter, during their teenage years in the 1990s. The two had met when they were 15 and continued their relationship into college before parting ways. Gligor, who had no prior criminal record, was living freely in Washington, D.C., and was known to be a frequent international traveler. In June 2024, Montgomery County Police detectives identified him as a potential suspect through forensic genetic genealogy. On June 9, 2024, they observed Gligor at Dulles International Airport, where they collected DNA from a water bottle he discarded. The analysis confirmed a match with the DNA found at the crime scene, including blood from beneath Preer’s fingernails, which could only belong to her killer.

On June 15, 2024, a warrant was issued for Gligor’s arrest, and on June 18, he was apprehended outside his apartment building in Washington, D.C. The arrest was a dramatic moment, with police shouting, “Hands up!” as Gligor, seemingly unaware of the reason, responded, “What’s going on? What is this about?” The DNA match was a pivotal breakthrough, demonstrating the power of modern forensic science in solving cases once thought unsolvable.

Arrest and Court Proceedings

Following his arrest, Gligor was charged with first-degree murder and extradited to Montgomery County, where he was held without bond due to his frequent international travel, which prosecutors argued made him a flight risk. His first court appearance on June 24, 2024, in Rockville, Maryland, marked the beginning of a legal process that would culminate in a guilty plea. On May 7, 2025, Gligor stood in a Montgomery County courtroom and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sparing the Preer family the ordeal of a trial. The plea was a significant moment, as it acknowledged the “dark secret” Gligor had hidden for half his life, as described by The Washington Post.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, speaking at a news conference after the plea, emphasized the significance of the resolution: “It doesn’t bring Leslie back, but now they know … who did it to her. There’s no such thing as closure, but I’m proud of what we do together, and I’m proud of our continuing search to find creative ways to make people in this community safer” (WTOP News).

The Preer Family’s Reaction

The revelation that Eugene Gligor, a former boyfriend and family friend, was responsible for Leslie Preer’s murder was a profound shock to her family. Lauren Preer, who had dated Gligor as a teenager and into college, expressed her disbelief in an interview with NBC Washington: “Both of these gentlemen with me were his friends as well, they knew him as long as I had known him as well, so never in a million years did we think that one of our people could hurt my mom like that.” The betrayal was compounded by the fact that Gligor had been part of their social circle, making his actions all the more incomprehensible.

Lauren was visibly emotional outside the courtroom after Gligor’s guilty plea, as reported by Mixvale. While the plea provided some measure of relief, the family continues to grapple with the loss of Leslie and the betrayal by someone they once trusted. The case’s resolution, while a step toward justice, does not erase the pain of 23 years of uncertainty.

The Role of Forensic Genetic Genealogy

The resolution of Leslie Preer’s murder case highlights the transformative impact of forensic genetic genealogy in criminal justice. This technique, which gained prominence in cases like the Golden State Killer, allows investigators to use DNA from crime scenes to identify suspects by tracing familial connections through public genealogy databases. In Preer’s case, the blood evidence from 2001 was re-analyzed in 2022, leading to Gligor’s identification. The subsequent collection of his DNA from a discarded water bottle at Dulles International Airport provided the definitive match needed for an arrest.

This technology has revolutionized cold case investigations, offering hope to families who have waited decades for answers. However, it also raises ethical questions about privacy and the use of genetic data, as public databases are often accessed without individuals’ explicit consent. Despite these debates, the success in cases like Preer’s underscores the potential of forensic genetic genealogy to bring justice where traditional methods have failed.

Community Impact and Legacy

Leslie Preer’s murder sent shockwaves through Chevy Chase, a community unaccustomed to such violent crimes. The case’s long-unsolved status left a lingering sense of unease, and Gligor’s arrest and guilty plea have brought a complex mix of relief and sorrow. The fact that the perpetrator was someone known to the family added a layer of betrayal that resonated beyond the Preers, affecting friends and neighbors who had also known Gligor.

The case has also sparked discussions about the importance of preserving evidence in cold cases and investing in forensic advancements. Montgomery County’s commitment to revisiting old cases, as evidenced by the $10,000 reward offered in 2022 and the use of cutting-edge DNA technology, serves as a model for other jurisdictions. The resolution of Preer’s case is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and the power of scientific innovation to deliver justice, even after decades.

Conclusion

The guilty plea of Eugene Gligor in the murder of Leslie Preer marks the end of a 23-year quest for justice, but it does not erase the pain endured by her family and community. The case, solved through the groundbreaking use of forensic genetic genealogy, highlights the potential of DNA technology to crack cold cases and bring answers to those left behind. For Lauren Preer and her family, the revelation that a former friend and boyfriend was responsible for their loss is a wound that may never fully heal. Yet, the resolution of this case offers a measure of accountability and a reminder of the enduring impact of violent crime. As Montgomery County continues to leverage technology to solve other unsolved cases, Leslie Preer’s legacy endures as a call for justice and remembrance.

Timeline of Key Events