NEWS & CRIME

DNA Solves 20-Year Murder of 15-Year-Old Phoenix Girl

DNA Solves 20-Year Murder of 15-Year-Old Phoenix Girl

Police in Arizona have arrested a man for the murder of a 15-year-old girl 20 years ago.

Phoenix Police said they arrested Sergio Francisco Reyes, now 37, for the murder of Elena Lasswell on July 10, 2004, KSAZ reported.

Police were called to a a home in northwest Phoenix that day where Lasswell was found. Firefighters tried unsuccessfully to save her life. The case eventually went cold, but in 2012, DNA provided a possible suspect.

That DNA evidence confirmed Reyes as the lead suspect in March 2013, and a Maricopa County grand jury indicted him.

Reyes, however, was living in Mexico at the time. He was finally extradited to Arizona this month and faces multiple felonies, including sexual assault and first degree murder.

Katie Tourville, Lasswell’s sister, told KSAZ that their mother had died since the murder but that “she wanted him to be caught so he couldn’t hurt anyone else.”

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[Featured image: KSAZ screenshot]

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