Omaha, NE Douglas County investagators are getting some help from an unexpected place.
     People who are taking action to solve the murder of Mary Cronin.

       16 and half years ago, Mary Cronin was last seen alive at Cappy's Bar at 108th and Mockingbird. 
     She worked there at night and went to school at College of Saint Mary during the day.
     Some future crime scene investigators feel a connection to her and want to put her killer behind bars.

  In a classroom on the College of Saint Mary campus, questions about a case gone cold.
  Students in the advanced forensic science class are researching Mary Cronin's murder. Student, Lindsey Glock says, "As soon as I heard she was from College of Saint Mary, I said this is it."
 Mary was 27 when she disappeared in April of 1992.
  Mushroom hunters uncovered her broken skull a year later in a Cass County field.
  Investigators believe someone smashed her skull with a ball ping hammer. Professor Nicole Wall says, "They want to be able to investigate techniques a little more and see if they can help shed light what can be done now to solve the case ."

 Mary's case now sits with the Douglas County CSI lab and the commander welcomes the students' help. Dave Kofoed says, "Maybe through their efforts, they look at it with a different  viewpoint and maybe see something that's there that we overlooked."

 But Mary Cronin's case is more than just a school project or a way to get experience.
Lindsey says, "It kinda gives me a sense of pride we were able to do this and help the family."
  They want to help family and friends after all these years.

There is a scholarship at College of Saint Mary in Mary's name.
 And investigators hope money will be a motivator. There is a $10,000 reward for any information that helps solve this case.

     If you know something about Mary Cronin's murder no matter how small it may seem.. Call CSI at 444-7996.

Reported by Michelle Bandur;michelle@action3news.com