Investigators arrested a 60-year-old Dallas man on a capital homicide cost within the 1984 killing of a 21-year-old lady after linking him to the crime by way of genealogical databases, prosecutors stated.
Edward Morgan was arrested within the killing of Mary Jane Thompson, who was additionally sexually assaulted, the Dallas County district legal professional's workplace stated Friday.
Morgan was being held Friday on the Dallas County jail, CBS DFW reported. Bond was not but listed for him, nor was an legal professional.
Thompson, an aspiring mannequin who labored at a florist's store and a restaurant, moved to Dallas about six months earlier than her February 1984 dying, the Dallas Morning Information reported. She beforehand lived in Houston and Los Angeles.
Thompson was final seen two days earlier than she was discovered lifeless behind a warehouse, strangled by her personal leg heaters. She had been taking a bus to a medical clinic that turned out to be closed, the newspaper reported.
Prosecutors stated Dallas police reopened the case in 2009 and that DNA testing was performed on swabs from the post-mortem. A male DNA profile was recognized however by no means matched to a selected suspect and the case went chilly once more.
After police opened the case once more in 2018, they labored with a workforce from the district legal professional's workplace and the FBI. Prosecutors stated Morgan was recognized as a suspect by way of expertise that makes use of genealogical web sites to determine potential kinfolk of a suspect based mostly on DNA collected at against the law scene. DNA testing confirmed this week that he matched the profile taken from the post-mortem in 1984.
"Working collectively, we proceed to resolve essentially the most troublesome chilly circumstances that Dallas has ever seen," stated Dallas County Assistant District Legal professional Leighton D'Antoni. "I look ahead to working with all our native legislation enforcement companies to make the most of the developments in forensic testing methods to determine, arrest, and prosecute essentially the most harmful predators hiding amongst us. We by no means, ever neglect about these circumstances, our victims, and their households."
After the arrest, Thompson's sister posted a number of messages and a montage of household pictures on Fb, writing that authorities "discovered the man that killed my sister 38 years in the past."
"Lacking you sis on Friday when i bought that decision i been ready 38 years for," Selena Tomasello wrote. "He will likely be in jail for the remainder of his life he's (no) longer free as a chicken i do know you're looking down."
Tomasello posted a number of messages about her sister through the years, together with one in 2014, marking 30 years since her dying.
"Mary Jane Thompson you might be beloved and missed. I'm sorry I used to be not there for you if you wanted me. I hope they discover the person who killed you 30 years in the past so you may relaxation in peace. Love you sis - rip," she wrote.