SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (TCD) — Advancements in DNA technology helped officials identify and arrest a 65-year-old man accused of killing a woman 40 years ago.
According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, on June 27, 1983, deputies responded to the unincorporated area of Rohnert Park and discovered Noelle Russo’s naked body. Russo had been beaten to death, and detectives began what would turn out to be a decades-long search trying to find her killer.
The Sheriff’s Office said investigators conducted numerous interviews, collected evidence, and developed persons of interest but never made any arrests.
Between 2010 to 2023, detectives with the Violent Crime Investigations Unit submitted evidence for DNA analysis to the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and the Serological Research Institute. Based on DNA and other evidence, the Sheriff’s Office said investigators were able to positively identify Alfredo Carretero Jr., an original person of interest, as the primary suspect.
Detectives arrested Carretero on Monday, Oct. 2, on suspicion of murder. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and is being held without bail.
The victim’s family has been made aware of Carretero’s arrest.