Ohio officials say they have solved a cold case murder from more than 40 years ago. The suspect, James Vanest, died during a shootout with officers at a motel near Canton last month.

A police shootout led authorities in Ohio to solve a cold case murder from 1981. Swat police and U.S. Marshals swarmed a motel room near North Canton last month. The man inside died after investigators said he barricaded himself inside and started a gunfight while a warrant was being served on federal gun charges.

Debbie Lee Miller was just two months away from high school graduation when she was beaten to death by her upstairs neighbor

One individual continued to draw investigators’ attention but not enough evidence could ever be provided to sustain an indictment,” Ohio police said.