COLD CASE BREAK: Forensic genetic genealogy identified a Gardena man as a person of interest in the 1994 murder of a Desert Hot Springs woman, who was found stabbed several times and bitten by her killer.
“I hope Cheri and her family will finally get the justice they deserve and have waited so long for,” Hestrin said in a statement.Memorial Service Tuesday For Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella Killed In Helicopter Crash
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Huss was found stabbed multiple times and was bitten by her killer. Homicide investigators determined she fought off her attacker, and blood left at the scene was determined to be male and matched the DNA of the saliva in Huss’ bite wounds. The case was cold for nearly 28 years, until forensic genetic genealogy identified Gadlin as a person of interest last month, district attorney’s officials said. Further investigation determined Gadlin lived in Thousand Palms in 1994, about 12 miles from where Huss was found murdered.
Cold case investigators got a warrant to get a saliva sample from Gadlin on Feb. 14. The state Department of Justice lab determined the sample from Gadlin matched the DNA profile of the man who killed and bit Huss, prosecutors said.CBSLA