Oct. 24, 1996, strangled in Fitchburg

The battered body of Ms. Stone was found by a passer-by on Kinsman Road in Fitchburg. The cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation.

In 2008, DNA from Alex Scensy, who was charged with a rape in West Boylston, proved to be match for evidence from Ms. Stone, and he was charged with her murder.

Scesny guilty of 1996 Fitchburg killing

Alex F. Scesny didn’t flinch. He stood motionless today in a blue dress shirt and tie as it was announced that a jury had found him guilty of murdering 39-year-old Theresa K. Stone roughly 16 years ago. A few rows back, Ms. Stone’s mother, Marilyn Stone, put her hands over her mouth and trembled.