Overview of The Deck — Tangie Sims (Nine of Diamonds, Colorado)
This episode of The Deck (host Ashley Flowers) tells the story of Tangie Sims, a 25-year-old woman found brutally murdered in an Aurora, Colorado alley on October 24, 1996. Investigators collected key biological evidence at the scene but the case went cold after leads and suspect testing failed to produce a match. Two decades later, advances in forensic DNA techniques — especially investigative genetic genealogy — and persistent cold-case work identified the source of the unknown blood as long‑haul trucker Wesley (Wes) Backman. Backman was deceased and cremated by the time detectives obtained a familial sample, so he was never arrested or tried. The episode highlights investigative persistence, the power of new DNA tools, the vulnerability of sex‑workers as victims, and the limits of closure when a suspect is already dead.
Key events & case timeline
- October 24, 1996: Tangie Sims found in an alley in Aurora — partially undressed, mutilated, throat cut (fatal), skull fracture, multiple defensive wounds. Evidence of drag marks suggested she was dumped there.
- Identification: A birth certificate and fingerprints identified the victim as Tangie Sims (25).
- Early investigation (1996–1997): A smear of non-victim blood on Tangie’s hip suggested the killer had cut himself while touching her. Investigators focused on a violent boyfriend, Dwayne “Taz” Gregory, who had threatened and abused Tangie; his DNA did not match the unknown sample.
- Case went cold after multiple local suspects produced negative results and CODIS searches were unrewarding.
- 2008–2009: Cold-case review and proper evidence preservation confirmed usable biological evidence remained.
- 2018–2019: Detective Mike Prince re-opened the case, obtained funding via Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, and contracted a genetic genealogist (Joan Hanlon). Genealogy narrowed suspects to a Backman family in the Fargo–Bismarck area.
- August 2019 and following months: Detectives interviewed family members, located Wes Backman’s daughter in Idaho, obtained a DNA swab, and matched the crime-scene blood to Wes Backman.
- Outcome: Match confirmed Wes Backman as the source of the blood; Backman was deceased and cremated, so no arrest or prosecution was possible.
Evidence, investigative steps & forensic methods
- Crime-scene evidence preserved: bloody leaves, a trash bag with blood spatter, the victim’s clothing (with a blood smear on the hip).
- Autopsy findings: fatal neck cuts, skull fracture, multiple stab/cut wounds (including a single stab to the buttocks), bruising, and defensive wounds — overall a violently angry attack.
- Initial forensic testing: comparison of crime-scene blood to local suspects (including Dwayne Gregory) and searches of state CODIS returned no matches.
- Advanced forensic techniques later used:
- Interstate database checks and INTERPOL queries
- Familial DNA searching
- Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) performed by a genealogist, which produced a family tree narrowing suspects to the Backman family
- Funding: reward/Cold Case funds from Metro Denver Crime Stoppers paid for the genealogical testing.
- Final confirmation: direct DNA comparison from Wes Backman’s daughter produced a match confirming Wes as the contributor of the crime-scene blood.
Breakthrough, resolution & limits of closure
- Breakthrough: IGG narrowed a suspect group to a North Dakota family; family members corroborated that Wes was violent and a long-haul trucker — consistent with witness reports that Tangie was last seen talking to the driver of a green-and-black semi.
- Resolution: DNA from Wes (via his daughter) matched the crime-scene blood, giving detectives certainty about the killer’s identity.
- Limits: Wes Backman was deceased and cremated, so he could not be questioned, arrested, or tried. Tangie’s family received answers but not justice in court — and investigators still wonder whether Backman may have other victims given his trucking career and violent history.
Broader context & themes
- Investigative genetics: The episode demonstrates how investigative genetic genealogy can solve cold cases that traditional CODIS/familial searches could not.
- Evidence preservation matters: Properly stored biological evidence (refrigerated and not in plastic) made decades‑later testing possible.
- Tunnel vision warning: Detective Joe Petruccelli reflects that focusing too early and strongly on a single suspect (Taz) led to missed opportunities — a caution about confirmation bias in investigations.
- Long-haul truckers and mobile offenses: The episode situates this case within a larger pattern where transient truckers have been linked to multiple inter-jurisdictional homicides; the FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative investigates similar patterns.
- Victim vulnerability: The episode underscores how sex‑workers are especially vulnerable to violent, mobile offenders and how their cases can be harder to solve due to transience and cross‑jurisdictional patterns.
Notable quotes
- Detective Joe Petruccelli on the crime: “This is a brutal person.… I’ve seen a lot of murders… this usually tells me that we got a lot of anger going on here.”
- On investigative mistakes: “I just got this tunnel vision… I was so set on finding her killer and Taz just fit the killer profile that I wanted him to fit.”
- On the genealogical lead: family member reaction — “If anybody killed anybody it was Wes,” — corroborating detectives’ suspicions.
Action items / contact & further resources
- If you have information about this case or potential links to other unsolved cases possibly connected to Wes Backman, contact Aurora Police Cold Case Detective Jason McDonald (see episode show notes for full contact details) or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers tip line: 720‑913‑7867 (anonymous tips accepted).
- For investigators or cold-case units:
- Preserve and properly store biological evidence long-term (avoid plastic bags, keep refrigerated).
- Consider investigative genetic genealogy when CODIS/familial searches fail.
- Guard against tunnel vision by continually re-evaluating suspects and leads.
Bottom line / Main takeaways
- Tangie Sims’ 1996 murder was solved decades later through persistence, proper evidence preservation, and investigative genetic genealogy, which identified Wes Backman as the source of the unknown blood at the scene.
- The case provides both a success story for modern forensic genealogy and a sobering reminder that identification does not always equal prosecution — especially when suspects are already deceased.
- The episode emphasizes the importance of evidence care, interdisciplinary tools (forensics + genealogy), cross-jurisdictional coordination, and vigilance against investigative bias.