DNA Helps Locate Cold Case Murder Suspect

October 3, 2012 Updated Oct 3, 2012 at 2:52 PM EDT

Miami County, Ind. (Indianas NewsCenter) DNA evidence plays a key role in helping authorities make an arrest in a 20-year-old murder case.

The Miami County Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday Timothy J. Jimerson of Biloxi, Mississippi was arrested in connection to the cold case murder of Toni Spicer, who was found murdered in her mobile home in the southern part of Miami County, all thanks to DNA evidence collected 20 years ago.

Prosecutor Bruce Embrey says that due to the very detailed and thorough crime scene investigation performed by Sgt. Dean Marks and State Trooper Gary Boyles in 1992, police agencies at any time could help in the murder investigation.

The evidence collected from the scene was sent off for DNA examination and cataloging, awaiting a DNA hit so that a suspects name could be issued. But it wasnt until recently that a DNA match was found.

Since a DNA match in most cases isnt enough to identify a suspect, the help of the Biloxi, Mississippi Police Department was enlisted and after extensive investigation Jimerson was arrested and is now awaiting extradition back to Peru.

Copyright 2012 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read this article:
DNA Helps Locate Cold Case Murder Suspect