In a surprising turn of events, fresh evidence has emerged in a cold case that has haunted authorities for nearly three decades. A suspect in the 1993 shooting death of liquor store owner Steven Weltig in Arnold, Missouri has been apprehended after making incriminating statements during a 2015 interrogation.

The breakthrough came when detectives Cpl. Brett Ackermann and Det. Corporal Josh Wineinger revisited the case in 2020, pouring over hours of footage from the 2015 interrogation. It was during this review that they noticed the suspect, Loril Harp, engaged in suspicious behavior. In one video, obtained through a public records request by Fox News Digital, Harp was seen talking to himself and cursing out a woman. In another, he vehemently denied his involvement in the crime, accompanied by visible signs of nervousness and agitation.

Of particular interest to the detectives was a phone call Harp made when he believed no one was listening. "I'm going to jail," he confessed during the call, giving further weight to the mounting suspicion against him. Armed with this critical piece of evidence, Ackermann and Wineinger decided to reinterrogate Harp in 2020, despite his failing health at the age of 68.

During the subsequent three-hour interview, recorded on audiotape and revealed through a public records request, Harp initially attempted to evade the detectives' questions and played ignorant. However, as the interview progressed, the detectives confronted Harp with their knowledge that he was present at the liquor store during Weltig's death. Harp eventually relented, providing a riveting account of an altercation between him and Weltig.

According to Harp's testimony, he claimed that Weltig had charged at him with a gun, prompting him to defend himself. Harp admitted to hitting Weltig repeatedly until the gun was dropped, after which he fled through the store's side door. The detectives' attention was piqued when Harp mentioned having blood on him, as the shooter had used the side door to escape. Harp attempted to attribute the blood to a fistfight, but it was too late. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, leading to Harp's arrest on September 30, 2020.

Charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, Harp's arrest finally provided a sense of closure for the long-standing cold case. However, justice was ultimately denied, as Harp succumbed to an undisclosed illness a year later at the age of 69.

The arrest of Loril Harp serves as a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and underscores the importance of revisiting cold cases with fresh eyes. The diligent work of Cpl. Brett Ackermann and Det. Corporal Josh Wineinger brought forth crucial evidence and testimonies that finally connected the dots in this decades-old mystery. Although Harp's death prevents him from facing the consequences of his alleged actions in court, his arrest brings solace to the community and offers hope that justice may prevail, even in the face of time.