The cold-case murder of a college student that had baffled authorities in Oregon for over four decades was finally solved thanks to a discarded piece of chewing gum. Robert Arthur Plympton, 60, was found guilty of murdering Barbara Mae Tucker, a 19-year-old student at Mount Hood Community College, in 1980.
Ms. Tucker’s body was found partially clad on a slope near the campus parking lot, showing signs of sexual assault and struggle with her assailant. Despite years of investigation, no suspect was identified until 2021 when DNA analysis linked Mr. Plympton to the crime.
Investigators began surveilling Mr. Plympton and collected a piece of chewing gum he had spit on the ground. The DNA profile from the gum matched that from Ms. Tucker’s autopsy, leading to Mr. Plympton’s arrest in June 2021. He was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree murder charges.
While Mr. Plympton’s lawyer argued for reasonable doubt, the judge found him guilty based on the evidence presented. He faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Ms. Tucker’s family expressed relief and closure upon the verdict, finally bringing justice for the young student whose life was tragically cut short.
