Updated Tuesday, March 18, 2008 -- 4:00 pm

"If this will bring closure we need to do it for us as a family ... and for Marilyn," family of Marilyn McIntyre say.

The remains of a woman killed nearly 30 years ago were exhumed Tuesday.

This is a story you saw first on NBC 15 News last November. It's the story of a young woman, brutally murdered in her home 28 years ago this month. But investigators believe they're closer to finding justice for Marilyn.

Where Marilyn McIntyre is laid to rest, there is no peace.

"It's kind of a hard on the family, but it's something I think that's gotta be done, if we want justice, this is what we have to do," Marilyn's brother, Dean Rahn, says.

This foggy, gloomy day, the mission of investigators is clear.

"Given some of the information and some of the items already collected and some previous evidence that's been re-examined, we're hopeful that we'll locate additional evidence that will correlate with what we've already found," Det. Lt. Wayne Smith says.

Investigators decided to exhume McIntyre's body in search of more DNA evidence.

"There's techniques and forensic science available to law enforcement now that there wasn't 28 years ago," Smith says.

McIntyre was beaten, stabbed and strangled in her home back in 1980.

"Her husband had just gotten back from work and came in and found his wife dead on the living room floor," police said last November.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office re-opened the case last Fall at the request of the family.

"I guess I was just tired of seeing people cry," Marilyn's niece, Terra Doucette says.

Tired of watching her mother, Marilyn's twin sister, live in fear.

"We're all afraid of the dark because we know what happens in the dark. I, forever, have seen my mom lock every door, check every window," Doucette says.

Marilyn was living here in downtown Columbus when she was killed. Her home burned to the ground one year after her death. She was married, 18-years-old and had given birth to a son just three months earlier.

"You think about her son Chris who hasn't hardly ever met her," Rahn says.

The same pathologist who conducted the autopsy in 1980 is on hand to re-examine the body and collect the additional evidence. But investigators say they already have narrowed their focus.

"It's a male subject that still resides in the area. It's someone that was familiar with friends and family," Det. Lt. Smith says.

"Hopefully it'll be kind of ironic. Maybe Marilyn will give us the answers herself from the grave and all we can do is hope and pray," Rahn says.

Either way, family members vow to keep seeking justice for Marilyn.

"It's just not over until we find out who did this. Hopefully they see this and they can't sleep tonight," Rahn says.

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Updated Tuesday, March 18, 2008 -- Noon

Shortly after 9:00 am on Tuesday, investigators exhumed the body of Marilyn McIntyre. McIntyre is buried in Lowell, near Columbus.

The 18-year-old wife and mother was living in Columbus when she was murdered -- beaten, stabbed and strangled -- 28 years ago this month.

On Tuesday, investigators raised McIntyre's body in search of more DNA evidence. Evidence collected at the time of the murder was re-submitted for DNA analysis last fall. Investigators say the results were "significant," but they hope to find more evidence on Tuesday.

The same pathologist who did the autopsy 28 years ago is on hand for Tuesday's evidence collection, though the condition of McIntyre's body is uncertain.

Investigators say they have a suspect in mind, and he's still in the area.

The case was re-opened last fall at the request of the family. Many family members were at the grave site Tuesday. You will hear from McIntyre's siblings on NBC 15 News at 6:00 pm.

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Update Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 --- 8:00am

COLUMBUS, Wis. (AP) -- The remains of a Columbus woman who was murdered 28 years ago will be exhumed Tuesday as investigators continue their work on the case reopened last year.

Columbia County sheriff's officials say additional evidence not known or obtained in 1980 may still be collected.

Eighteen-year-old Marilyn McIntyre was found beaten, strangled and stabbed in her home in March 1980. The only witness was her three-month-old son, now an adult.

Authorities say evidence gathered at the time of McIntyre's death was collected and preserved and could be matched with possible evidence collected after her remains are exhumed.

The sheriff's department agreed to reopen the homicide investigation in October 2007 after receiving a request from the Columbus Police Department and family members.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Official Press Release from Columbia County Sheriff's Office:

In October of 2007 The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, after receiving a request from the Columbus Police Department and surviving family members of Marilyn McIntyre, agreed to reopen the homicide investigation. Marilyn McIntyre was murdered on or about March 11th, 1980 at her home in the City of Columbus.

As a result of the ongoing investigation the body of McIntyre will be exhumed and examined for additional forensic evidence, on March 18th, 2008. Investigators believe that additional evidence not known of or obtained in 1980 may possibly still be collected. Any such evidence, if located, combined with currently reexamined evidence may lead to the identity of her killer.

The Sheriff’s Office is working cooperatively with The Columbus Police Department, State of Wisconsin Crime Lab, State of Wisconsin Division of Criminal investigation and The Columbia County District Attorney.

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Updated Wednesday, November 14, 2007 --- 6:15pm
Reporter: Melissa Wollering

In the last 24-hours, we revealed never-before released details about the death of Marilyn McIntyre.

Wednesday, investigators spent the day pouring over 27-years worth of evidence in Columbia County.

Tuesday night detectives were standing by live to take your calls as we asked for information about the murder of Marilyn McIntyre.

Wednesday, the Columbia County Sheriff's Department, Columbus Police Department and the state Department of Criminal Investigation met to discuss fresh leads in the case.

In March of 1980, 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre was brutally murdered in her Columbus home. Her husband came home from work to find his wife beaten, strangled and stabbed. The only witness: her 3 month old son Christopher who is now 27-years old.

One year after her death, the McIntyre's home mysteriously burned down. Investigators believe evidence gathered at the time of her death could provide them with a DNA sample of the killer.

Lt. Wayne Smith says, "They didn't collect it with DNA in mind but because they collected and preserved it, analyzed it to the standard at that time, it still now exists."

DNA analysis has been done on the case as recently as 2003. The state plans to do more. Detectives believe that Marilyn knew her killer and that the person still lives in the area.

Marilyn has a twin sister Carolyn who has been fighting to get this case back in the spotlight.

Wednesday is Carolyn's and what would have been Marilyn's 46th birthday.

If you have any information that could help solve this crime, call the Columbia County Sheriff's Department at 742-4166 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-293-TIPS.

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Posted Tuesday, November 13, 2007 -- 10:15pm

Investigators are on the verge of cracking a murder mystery from 1980.
With never before released details, NBC 15 is partnering with the Columbia County Sheriff's Department and Columbus Police for this unprecedented story.

Winds from the east haven't swept through since the last change in season.

"It's been a long time since we've heard anything new," says Carolyn Rahn. Rahn barely remembers the warmth of summer because the days since her sister's death feel bitterly cold.

"There isn't a day that goes by I don't think about her," says Rahn.

Marilyn McIntyre's happiest day was the day she and her husband Lane welcomed their son Christopher into the world.

"Christopher was her life," says Rahn.

Three months later, in March of 1980, Marilyn was brutally murdered in her Columbus home.

"Her husband had just gotten back from work and came in and found his wife dead on the living room floor," says Lieutenant Terry Seely of the Columbus Police Department. Lt. Seely says Marilyn was just 18-years-old at the time.

"The way she was murdered was actually very violent," says Lt. Seely. "There was a knife involved. She was stabbed, strangled. Some of the neighbors had told us that they heard dogs barking. The neighbor's dog was barking at around three in the morning."

Ironically, one year after her death, the McIntyre's home on South Ludington in Columbus burned down and was later demolished.

The only witness was Marilyn's three-month old son. Christopher McIntyre remembers nothing of his mother's murder but now struggles to justify living 27 years without her.

"I know she was a very kind loving person," says Christopher McIntyre. "I know I got my looks from her, all my red hair and I got my freckles from my mother."

"I miss her smile, her laughter," says Marilyn's sister, Carolyn. "It's just painful."

Like autumns of old, this year the winds changed.

"We received some tip information from an individual about an unsolved homicide in Columbus," says Lieutenant Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department.

Tucked beneath years of files, police, Columbia County detectives and state investigators reopened a dusty, white cardboard box several weeks ago, breathing new life into Marilyn's death.

"DNA wasn't something that was done in 1980," says Lt. Smith. "There has been some DNA analysis done on the case as recent as 2003. We've looked at some of that and have some ideas."

"We've gone over all of the photos of the crime scene in the interior and the exterior," says Lt. Terry Seely.

Lt. Wayne Smith believes Marilyn knew her killer or killers. "I believe the person that committed this crime is still in the community, at least nearby," says Lt. Smith. "I think the case is solved and answers are here in these papers."

Those answers are what Carolyn Rahn has wanted and feared all these years.

"I believe deep down, I know who did it," says Rahn.

Because deep down, Marilyn and Carolyn are not only sisters. They are also twins.

"We were just so close," says Rahn. "I felt her pain. She felt my pain. I don't celebrate my birthday."

Carolyn's wounds reopen like clockwork each and every year. while Marilyn's wounds are still shrouded in darkness waiting for someone to shed light on the truth.

"I want justice," says Rahn. "She deserves that."

Wednesday, November 14th marks Carolyn and what would be Marilyn's 46th birthday. If you or someone you know has any information that could help investigators, please call 608-742-4166 and ask for Detective Sergeant Linda Shawback or Detective Sergeant Mike Reimer. You can call also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-293-TIPS.