Last Friday, authorities said that newfound DNA evidence helped find the culprits of previously unsolved murders in California, some dating back to 1980, of three women and a teenage girl. This eventually led to the arrest of a 75-year-old man in Texas.
Detectives from the Los Angeles and Inglewood Police Departments traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to arrest the man, Billy Ray Richardson. The police linked him to the murders of Kari Lenander, Beverly Cruse, and her sister, Debra Cruse, in 1980 in Los Angeles, as well as Trina Wilson in 1995 in Inglewood.
DNA evidence helped link the crimes to Richardson, though authorities did not elaborate on what findings had led to him. It was also unclear whether Richardson known to any of the victims.
The Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascón, said in a statement on Friday that he was thankful for those whose work had led to the arrest. “I cannot imagine the pain that these families have endured,” he said. “Their loss is immeasurable. We hope that together we can bring justice to the families who have endured so much and have waited years for this moment.”
On the night 15-year-old Kari Lenander, was murdered, she and her best friend, Toni Garfield, were alone at Ms. Garfield’s house getting ready for a party, Detective Tim Marcia told The Los Angeles Times magazine in a 2010 profile. After the girls went dancing, they hitchhiked on their way back.
They were picked up by a white man who said his name was Ken and that he was visiting from Canada. Toni Garfield was dropped off at home, but Kari Lenander said she was going to “keep partying” with Ken, the magazine reported. The girls separated at about 10 p.m., and Lenander’s body was found about five hours later.
In 2012, the Inglewood City Council adopted a resolution offering $25,000 for information that could lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ms. Lenander’s murder.
Source article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/us/billy-richardson-cold-case-california.html
Detectives from the Los Angeles and Inglewood Police Departments traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to arrest the man, Billy Ray Richardson. The police linked him to the murders of Kari Lenander, Beverly Cruse, and her sister, Debra Cruse, in 1980 in Los Angeles, as well as Trina Wilson in 1995 in Inglewood.
DNA evidence helped link the crimes to Richardson, though authorities did not elaborate on what findings had led to him. It was also unclear whether Richardson known to any of the victims.
The Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascón, said in a statement on Friday that he was thankful for those whose work had led to the arrest. “I cannot imagine the pain that these families have endured,” he said. “Their loss is immeasurable. We hope that together we can bring justice to the families who have endured so much and have waited years for this moment.”
On the night 15-year-old Kari Lenander, was murdered, she and her best friend, Toni Garfield, were alone at Ms. Garfield’s house getting ready for a party, Detective Tim Marcia told The Los Angeles Times magazine in a 2010 profile. After the girls went dancing, they hitchhiked on their way back.
They were picked up by a white man who said his name was Ken and that he was visiting from Canada. Toni Garfield was dropped off at home, but Kari Lenander said she was going to “keep partying” with Ken, the magazine reported. The girls separated at about 10 p.m., and Lenander’s body was found about five hours later.
In 2012, the Inglewood City Council adopted a resolution offering $25,000 for information that could lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ms. Lenander’s murder.
Source article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/us/billy-richardson-cold-case-california.html
