A 71-year-old man accused of killing a North Park resident more than a half-century ago pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder count.
Johnnie Salisbury is accused of beating and stabbing 34-year-old Edmund LaFave, who was found in a pool of blood inside the bedroom of his Suncrest Drive home on Feb. 25, 1975, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Though the case went cold, forensic investigative genetic genealogy — which utilizes public genealogy databases rather than criminal databases to identify suspects — aided in Salisbury’s identification as the alleged killer, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators were later able to determine that Salisbury’s fingerprints were matched to ones found at the crime scene, including on a clothes iron that was allegedly used to beat the victim, the DA’s Office said.
Salisbury, who was 21 years old at the time of LaFave’s death, was living in Indiana when he was arrested there last month in the town of North Webster.
Police and prosecutors have not disclosed a suspected motive for the homicide, nor the connection, if any, between Salisbury and LaFave.
“Sometimes we have to wait decades to deliver justice on behalf of a murder victim, but the key is to never give up on justice,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. “This defendant got away with murder for more than half a century, but thanks to the dedication of law enforcement is now being held to account for his brutal crime. This is an outstanding example of how modern science, combined with a commitment to solving cold case murders, can lead to a just result. I want to thank the entire team who worked on this case and never gave up searching for this killer.”
