Lepere

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On February 19, 1980, police were dispatched to an Anaheim apartment where there was a body of 79-year-old woman lying on a bed. There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment. The victim was naked, her legs were spread apart, and there was a pillowcase stuffed in her mouth. The victim had bruises on her body. There were bite marks on the victim’s lower chest and thigh. It was later discovered the victim had two broken ribs, tears to her vagina, and she had died from asphyxiation. Police were unable to identify any possible suspects.

2 In 2002, the victim’s sexual assault (rape) kit was analyzed by the Orange County Crime Lab. A forensic scientist was able to extract DNA from the victim’s vaginal swabs to create a male DNA profile. In subsequent years, there were advances in DNA technology that enabled forensic scientists to further identify more DNA genetic markers from the extracted sperm cells. In 2020, the cold case investigation was assigned to Anaheim Police Detective Julissa Trapp, who sought assistance from the FBI. The unknown DNA profile was sent to a company that was able to generate a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)…