"Her picture hangs in our detective division, where our folks see it every day as a reminder of her and why we continue to pursue these cases.". 11-year-old Linda OKeefe was kidnapped on her way back from home in July 1973. Linda Ann O'Keefe cold case: Murder, sexual assault suspect dies in DNA leads to man's arrest 46 years after murder of 11-year-old Linda O The following morning, O'Keefe's body was found in a ditch. "It is bittersweet to hear that, yes, this case has been resolved. James Alan Neal has been arrested in the July 1973 murder of 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe in Newport Beach. Monument man mulls extradition in 1973 rape and murder of California When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A true-crime retelling of Linda O'Keefe's 1973 abduction & killing led police to James Alan Neal, ID'd through DNA as the primary suspect. Since April 2018, genetic genealogy has helped identify more than three dozen suspects, said CeCe Moore, chief genetic genealogist with Parabon NanoLabs. A day later, her body was found in a ditch, and she had been sexually assaulted. James Neal, 72, who lived in Southern California and worked in construction in the 1970s, was arrested this week in Colorado, where he had been living, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at a Wednesday news conference. "They haven't forgotten about her and we haven't, either.". The girl, whose body was found the next day, was strangled. He was transferred to a local. ABC News' Kayna Whitworth contributed to this report. Suspect in 1973 California rape and murder dies before trial | 9news.com He also teamed up with reporter Joe Nelson in 2019 on Bad Apples, an award winning investigation that exposed years of sex abuse cover up in the Redlands Unified School District. About a month later, the police brought additional charges of sexual assault against a child younger than 14. James Alan Neal, 73, was an inmate at the maximum-security Theo Lacy jail in Orange for the 1973 sexual assault and strangling death of Linda O'Keefe, 11. IE 11 is not supported. Photo Source. "Generations of investigators worked on her case. Track Latest News and Karnataka Elections 2023 Coverage Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "I'm astonished at what they were able to accomplish," Borgeson, 64, said. He was the second of three children but had a difficult upbringing. He was apprehended in February after DNA analysis identified him as a suspect in OKeefes slaying. O'Keefe's parents have since died, Spitzer said, but her sisters have been notified about the arrest. He has not been able to relate well with other students, family members or inmates. James Alan Neal, 72, of Monument, Colorado, who was arrested for allegedly murdering Linda OKeefe in Newport Beach, California, in 1973. Colorado man charged in 1973 Orange County cold case dies awaiting trial. Linda was last seen talking to a stranger in a van, Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis said Wednesday. But again, it's a reminder of what happened. Feb. 20, 2019. James Neal, 73, was arrested last year in Monument for the 1973 murder of 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe in Newport Beach, California. Her body was found the next day in a nature preserve. Through the tireless efforts of generations of our investigators, we hope we have been able to bring a measure of closure to Lindas family, friends, and loved ones., Orange County District AttorneyTodd Spitzerput Neals death in more bitter terms, saying the new development robbed the OKeefe family of the justice they so deserve and deprives the law enforcement officers of the satisfaction that they finally got their culprit.. The genealogical hit came in January, officials said. Lindas story deeply touched the hearts of our community. Then in January, CeCe Moore of San Clemente, who heads Parabons genetic genealogy unit matched DNA evidence gathered in the OKeefe investigation to a sample provided to genealogy website FamilyTreeDNA.com leading authorities to identify Neal, now 72, as a suspect. The lead bringing officials to Neal came after these sketches were released, authorities said Wednesday. O'Keefe, who was seven years younger than Borgeson, was "an old soul" with a "go with the flow" personality, Borgeson said. Spitzer said a DNA sample was recovered from O'Keefe after her body was found and uploaded to a database, where it never matched others. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. On the day Linda disappeared, she was last seen talking to a stranger in a van, Lewis said. Its amazing how you really dont know people.. It was a difficult conversation . US Man James Neal Arrested After Police Tweet Re-Creation Of Girl On the day Linda Ann O'Keefe died, it was a cooler-than-normal July morning in Newport . Linda O'Keefe. Neal was released from police custody on his own recognizance, fled California and was rearrested when he returned to the state on March 3, 1966. James Neal, who was charged with sexually assaulting and killing Linda O'Keefe, died on Wednesday (Picture: AP) An man arrested for a series of cold case sex crimes against children died. This defendant seems quite emotionally immature and psychologically unstable, McMillan wrote in his report. All Rights Reserved. "Linda's face and her memory has been with us since the day this happened," he said. In July 1973, 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe was murdered. Linda Ann O'Keefe's killing in 1973 in Newport Beach, California went unsolved for more than four decades. The key moment arrived with the February 19, 2019 arrest of Neal in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her parents checked with friends and searched the neighborhood and the path she took home to no avail, Lewis said. Reportedly, Colorado resident James Alan Neal was arrested in 2019 after a DNA report linked him to Linda O'Keefe's 1973 cold murder case. James Neal (left) and Linda O'Keefe (right) (credit: CBS). Years later, the authorities developed a DNA profile from the biological evidence recovered from Linda, and that was eventually matched to James in January 2019. Neal is being held in the El Paso County Jail in Colorado. Spitzer also refused to confirm whether Neal had family members or children, saying the matter was under investigation. The child disappeared while walking home from summer school, and her body was found strangled in a ditch the next day. McMillan remained skeptical. Borgeson said she also prayed for Neal's family as his arrest was announced. Now a Suspect Has Been Arrested, JonBent Ramsey's Father Is Optimistic DNA Advances Will Catch Daughter's Killer, Slams Boulder Police, DNA Taken from Truck's Door Handle in Washington Leads to Arrest 34 Years After Wisconsin Mom's Killing, Pa. Linda O'Keefe, 11, vanished in July 1973 when she was heading home from school in Newport Beach. Neal was arrested Tuesday "without incident" in Colorado Springs, Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis said at a news conference Wednesday. He was always getting into fights and was always afraid to tell anyone how I really felt. . That I'll be found a couple hundred yards from her home. The detectives dogged this case. James Neal, 73, was arrested last year in Monument for the 1973 murder of 11-year-old Linda OKeefe in Newport Beach, California. Suspect in Linda O'Keefe cold-case homicide described as habitual Newport Beach police in July released a sketch of a man, the possible suspect, based on DNA collected at the scene. He was arrested in Colorado Springs on Feb. 19. Lindas story deeply touched the hearts of our community, said Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis. 1966 probation report describes man suspected, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), 1966 probation report describes man suspected of killing 11-year-old Linda OKeefe as emotionally disturbed, Whats new: Loma Villas apartments sell for $21.5M to investor, 4 dead in Mojave Desert community after shooting report, El Chapo sons send Mexico cartels cheap fentanyl into US, Sacramento Snapshot: Cities would need to include homeless-serving housing in state plans under new bill, after DNA analysis identified him as a suspect, Police hope vintage photo of man accused of murdering 11-year-old in 1973 will bring witnesses forward, Man charged with killing 11-year-old Linda OKeefe in 1973 cold-case murder in Newport Beach, How DNA and old-fashioned police work led to arrest in 1973 cold-case murder of 11-year-old Linda OKeefe, Newport Beach Police will use Twitter to tell story of 11-year-old homicide victim on 45th anniversary of her unsolved murder, Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (April 20-27), More land sliding at Casa Romantica; residents evacuated, trains halted through San Clemente, Orange County Artist of the Year winners announced, Then and Now: Photos of Casa Romantica show damage caused by landside, Fire at Barnes & Noble in Orange disrupts book-signing event, The DMV says permission to drive is based on ability, but older drivers are scrutinized more, OC Marine who volunteered in Ukraine, survived rocket attack: I would do it again, Cold, drizzly week ahead for Southern California, A look at Orange Countys baseball teams and the CIF-SS playoffs, Joe Bidens re-election bid is off to a bad start, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Colorado man charged in 1973 Orange County cold case dies awaiting trial "Technology has caught up with the law," Spitzer said Wednesday. Scott has also worked at newspapers in Utah, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia covering everything from methamphetamine trafficking cops to hurricanes. James Alan Neal, 72, was picked up in Colorado on Tuesday and charged with the murder of 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe in 1973. James Alan Neal, who was 73, was taken to an area hospital on May 25 due to an undisclosed illness, said Jaimee Blashaw of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Neal was taken to a hospital on May 25 for an illness. / CBS Colorado. A native of Chicago, Neal began getting into trouble soon after he moved with his family to Anaheim in 1956. At the least, prosecutors will ask for life without the possibility of parole if Neal is convicted, the district attorney said. Although Linda died almost half a century ago, her family, the community and members of law enforcement never stopped thinking of her or hoping her killer would be brought to justice, Spitzer said. That night, family members, volunteers and police spread out to search for her. Her friend later told police a turquoise van stopped next to O'Keefe a few times as she walked. His next court appearance is set for June 14. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and to allegations of lewd and lascivious acts on two girls under age 14 between 1995-2004. However, through the genealogical data of his family members, who voluntarily submitted their DNA to genealogy databases, investigators were able to corroborate the DNA from O'Keefe's body and the DNA obtained from the suspect, according to Spitzer. Linda O'Keefe fue asesinada en 1973 mientras caminaba a casa desde la escuela. The community made sure that justice would be secured, he said. But that day, she was dropped off. SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A Colorado man has pleaded not guilty to murder in the 1973 death of an 11-year-old California girl. Linda never made it home that afternoon., For 45 years, the Newport Beach Police Department continued to search for Lindas killer," Lewis said. A Santa Ana police officer who arrested Neal for the burglary went further, describing him as being in constant emotional conflict and in need of long-term psychiatric care.
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