They kidnapped and killed her in 1985, and only 36 years later they managed to find the murderer

A man was charged this week with the murder of a 17 year old teenager in Florida (USA). But what is striking is that this is a case of kidnapping followed by a crime which he was committed in 1985.

Duval County jury indicted David Nelson Austin, 58, for first degree murder of Leslie McCraySheriff’s office head of investigations, Thomas Waters, explained at a press conference.

Kidnapping and Death on Christmas 1985

The victim was University student when she was kidnapped at knife threat from her Jacksonville home, on Christmas Eve 36 years ago.

A stranger entered the apartment, tied up the young woman and her boyfriend, before taking her away against her will, local authorities reported.

After being released, McCray’s boyfriend called the police and the search began. However, a few hours later his body was found mutilated with stab wounds in the neck, on a road.

They resume the investigation after three decades

The investigation into Leslie’s death was put on hold a year later because couldn’t move forward with clues from the evidence they gathered at the scene, Waters expanded and disseminated RT.

Years have passed, but not the need for justice on the part of the victim’s family. Thus, in 2019, they contacted the Jacksonville Open Cases Unit, and the organization “Case closed”, which works to shed light on unsolved homicides in the United States.

After again requesting a review of the evidence using current and much more modern forensic technology, they reexamined the collected evidence and were left with a big surprise.

The DNA profile matches that of Austin, prompting investigators in Michigan, where the defendant is serving a sentence life imprisonment for sexual assault cases, since 1991.

According to authorities, Austin I had never been a suspect despite having lived in Jacksonville at the time of the murder. It was because he had been there for a short time and then left the state.

Austin fell to Michigan, where he committed the crimes for which he is currently serving time. But they hope it will be soon extradited to Florida face the charges.

McCray’s family said they are finally living a feeling of relief. Sometimes justice can be very slow, they know it can even take more than three decades.