How would I find an old newspaper article on a murder that happened 26 years ago?

The internet.

I would try the library of the town that the incident happened in. Libraries keep news paper articles on film, or more modern libraries on computers. You might even be able to find it through the libraries website.

You may actually have to go to the LIBRARY and look through their old "microfishes" of old newspapers. It will help to know the approx. date.

Try the library or perhaps the archives of a newspaper that you can get to online.

All newspaper agencies have a data-storage facility where they keep almost everything they have published. You must talk to them and maybe they can help you

build a time machine

try the internet or the library archives also ask your local police as they may have a old file in there archives goodluck and i hope you find what you need

If you know the newspaper, check them out as they all usually hold archives of past editions, and today usually on disk, you can visit their office and browse or perhaps through an online archive.

zaba search always works (www.zabasearch.com) also you can run a background check for a fee of usually $50. I would also assume you can just go to your local police department and ask if they have any records of the person.