An 11-year-old girl was kidnapped and murdered in 1973 when she returned to school – and her DNA leads to arrest



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<p class = "web-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "On July 6, 1973, Linda O'Keefe, age 11 Missing on July 3, 1973, 11-year-old Linda O Keefe disappeared on her way home after a summer school in the coastal town of Corona del Mar in southern California. "data-reactid =" 31 "the southern coastal city of California of Corona del Mar.

To the horror of his family, his dead body was found the next day in a ditch, still dressed in the dress that his mother had prepared for him. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

On Tuesday, 45 years after the brutal murder of Linda, the authorities arrested the man that DNA evidence from a genealogy site would indicate as being his murderer: James Alan Neal, 72, of Monument, Colorado, announced Wednesday officials at a press conference.

Detectives in Newport Beach stopped Neal at 6:29 am in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis at the press conference.

Neal is accused of murder, abduction during the commission of murder and obscene and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 in the seaside town of Corona del Mar, said county prosecutor D & C. Orange, Todd Spitzer.

James Alan Neal, 72, of Monument, Colorado, who was arrested for the alleged murder of Linda O 'Keefe in Newport Beach, California, in 1973.

Neal is currently being held at the El Paso County Jail in Colorado. He could be brought to California sometime this week if he gives up on extradition, said Spitzer.

It is unclear when he retained the services of a lawyer who can speak on his behalf.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "• Do you want to keep up to date on the latest crime coverage? Click here to get news of the crime, the coverage of the current lawsuit and details about intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime newsletter."data-reactid =" 58 ">• Do you want to keep up to date on the latest crime coverage? Click here to get news of the crime, the coverage of the current lawsuit and details about intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime newsletter.

Although Linda died almost half a century ago, her family, community and law enforcement never stopped thinking about her or hoping her murderer be brought to justice, said Spitzer.

"The people of Newport Beach City have been following this business for literally 45 years," said Spitzer.

"Yet for 45 years, the Newport Beach Police Department has never given up. The detectives pursued this case. The community is assured that justice is done, "he said.

Shortly after Linda's murder, investigators recovered DNA evidence from her remains, Spitzer said.

The DNA sample of her dress was introduced into the CODIS system in 2001, but it remained empty, he said.

Detectives from the Newport Beach Police Department continued to investigate.

Taking advantage of the latest crime-solving techniques, Spitzer said in January: "They received an indicator through a genealogical DNA."

By combining the "latest" DNA technology with "old-fashioned" detective work, the investigators went to Neal, Lewis said.

The suspect changed his name after Linda's death

Neal currently lives in Colorado, but investigators were able to confirm that he was living in California in the 1970s, at the time of Linda's murder, Spitzer said.

"It had a connection with southern California, which has been corroborated," he said.

After Linda's death, Neal moved to Florida, where he changed his name to James Alan George Leyton, said Spitzer. Later, he moved to Colorado, where he lived when he was arrested, he said.

The day Linda disappeared, she was last seen talking to a stranger in a van, Lewis said.

"Linda has never been home this afternoon," he said.

Her parents checked with friends and searched the neighborhood and the way she had borrowed to go home "without result," said Lewis.

"Then her mother made that call that all parents feared" and told the police that her daughter was missing, he said.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "As part of an effort to renew interest in case, the Newport Beach Police Department used his Twitter account tell the story of Linda's life, her mysterious disappearance and her death. "data-reactid =" 75 "> As part of an effort to generate renewed interest, Newport Beach Police Services used their Twitter account to tell the story of Linda's life, her mysterious disappearance and death.

"Generations of investigators have been working on his case," Lewis said. "We never gave up."

Anyone likely to hold information on this unresolved crime is urged to call the hotline of people awaiting a serious case of Newport Beach Police at 949-644-3669.

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