Linda O'Keefe. Linda O'Keefe was last seen alive in Corona Del Mar, California, in July 1973. Taking advantage of the latest in crime-solving techniques, in January, Spitzer said, they received a pointer indication through genealogical DNA.. and opened doors for us to have this case pursued with renewed effort.". "That sample remained in the system for a long period of time," Spitzer 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. 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. The novel investigative technique of genetic genealogy takes an unknown killer's DNA from a crime scene and identifies the suspect through his or her family members, who voluntarily submit their DNA to genealogy databases. 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. The key moment arrived with the February 19, 2019 arrest of Neal in Colorado Springs, Colorado. James Alan Neal was born James Albert Layton Jr. in Chicago, Illinois, in July 1946. The next day, a man visiting that area found O'Keefe's strangled body, police said. Colorado man charged in 1973 Orange County cold case dies awaiting trial Monument man mulls extradition in 1973 rape and murder of California A man has been arrested through DNA and genetic genealogy in the decades-old cold case killing of 11-year-old Linda Ann OKeefe, who was strangled to death in Southern California in 1973, authorities said. Linda O'Keefe fue asesinada en 1973 mientras caminaba a casa desde la escuela. Man arrested in Monument for 1973 murder dies in custody NDTV Public Opinion: Will Tipu Sultan Controversy Impact Karnataka Votes? (Courtesy of Newport Beach Police Department) Authorities suspect that Neal, while on parole in the Colorado case, snatched OKeefe, who lived in Corona del Mar, from the street on July 6, 1973, as she walked home from summer school. She had been strangled and was still wearing a blue-and-white floral print dress that her mother had sewn for her. [emailprotected]. And at the time of his arrest Neal had no income, savings or property except for a car that had been stolen in Springfield, Illinois, McMillan said. ABC News' Jenna Harrison contributed to this report. Linda never made it home that afternoon., For 45 years, the Newport Beach Police Department continued to search for Lindas killer," Lewis said. An undated photo of Linda OKeefe who was killed in Southern California in July 1973. That night, family members, volunteers and police spread out to search for her. He was apprehended in February after DNA analysis identified him as a suspect in OKeefes slaying. 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. At the least, prosecutors will ask for life without the possibility of parole if Neal is convicted, the district attorney said. Lindas story deeply touched the hearts of our community. It was a difficult conversation . Neal was taken to a hospital on May 25 for an illness. According to later reports, James didnt get along with his family, and his parents were physically and psychologically cruel to him and his siblings. People in the city of Newport Beach have been following this case for literally 45 years, Spitzer said. My mom made it. The 11-year-old was last seen on this street talking to a stranger in a van. . So, if youre curious to know more about James and what happened to him after his arrest, weve got you covered. The child disappeared while walking home from summer. 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. Jeffrey Malecki, 55, who lived next door to Neal for five years, said Friday his neighbor mentioned having served time in jail but never elaborated. However, the case remained unsolved for about 46 years before the investigators found the killer. Newport Beach Police Neal is being held in the. DNA leads to man's arrest 46 years after murder of 11-year-old Linda O 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. An undated photo of murder victim Linda O'Keefe and her family. DNA recovered from O'Keefe shortly after her death was put into the Combined DNA Index System -- the law enforcement database known as CODIS -- but there was no hit, Spitzer said. "I want to know if there are any other victims.". For nearly 45 years, the murder of 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe haunted the Newport Beach Police Department in California. Helicopters, police Jeeps and search parties scoured the area looking for signs of O'Keefe. So, if youre curious to know more about James and what happened to him after his arrest, weve got you covered. As a result of that genealogical submission, they got an indication that James Alan Neal may be the suspect. Suspect in Linda O'Keefe cold-case homicide described as habitual Specifics on how Neal died have not been released, but 11 News is told he was hospitalized at the end of May. . Neal moved to. SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A Colorado man has pleaded not guilty to murder in the 1973 death of an 11-year-old California girl. Three weeks later, he pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary, was sentenced to 40 days in jail with credit for time served and placed on probation against McMillans recommendation that he should instead be sent to Vacaville Prison in Northern California. Spitzer also refused to confirm whether Neal had family members or children, saying the matter was under investigation. Linda Ann O'Keefe was the middle child in a family of five. Even after detectives got the lead through genealogical DNA, investigators needed to a secure a sample from Neal, Spitzer said. Photo Source. The DNA researcher Moore has been on the forefront of linking cold cases to suspects through genetic material voluntarily offered by Americans doing ancestry research. On the day Linda Ann O'Keefe died, it was a cooler-than-normal July morning in Newport Beach, California. A day later, her body was found in a ditch, and she had been sexually assaulted. 'Serial child sex predator' dies in police custody before he faces pic.twitter.com/47pA4FhBmG, Newport Beach Police (@NewportBeachPD) July 5, 2018, Im wearing a dress today Its white, with light blue flowers on it, and dark blue trim. Emailus. On the day Linda Ann O'Keefe died, it was a cooler-than-normal July morning in Newport . The defendants conscience began to bother him, so he walked off a job he had obtained in Inglewood, returned to Santa Ana and contacted an officer of the Santa Ana Police Department, McMillan wrote in the report. ", Borgeson said, if she gets a chance to speak to Neal, she would "let him know that I've been praying for him.". Her killer, James Alan Neel, was caught 45 years later, in February 2019, after. Her body was found the next morning in a ditch in the area of Newport Beachs Back Bay. When O'Keefe didn't return home right away, there was little concern at first. Neal currently lives in Colorado, but investigators were able to confirm that he lived in California in the 1970s, when Linda was murdered, Spitzer said. James Allen Neal. He was on parole from Colorado's prison system when Linda Ann O'Keefe was killed. Having spent two years living in England including Liverpool, he is an avid Beatles fan and memorabilia collector. . After the burglary sentencing, James moved to Denver, Colorado, where he was accused of stealing from the gas station he worked at. James Neal, 72, was arrested in Colorado Springs, Colo., and charged with murder with special circumstances in the death of Linda O'Keefe, who was found strangled in 1973, a case that has. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. After Lindas death, Neal moved to Florida, where he changed his name to James Alan George Leyton, Spitzer said. Photo Source. 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe was kidnapped on her way back from home in July 1973. This defendant seems quite emotionally immature and psychologically unstable, McMillan wrote in his report. Trouble followed James everywhere, and he was sentenced to 3-10 years for fraud in Colorado. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced the arrest of James Alan Neal in the 1973 murder of 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe during a press conderence on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. It was not clear from records if he was convicted for those offenses. Only one person, a woman who did not know anything about a missing girl, was close enough to hear her, and by then it was too late. His earliest crimes were breaking into homes when he was around 12-years-old. "He has a connection to Southern California.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He could be brought to California sometime this week if he waives extradition, Spitzer said. He was always getting into fights and was always afraid to tell anyone how I really felt. . Neal was arrested on February 19, 2019 in Monument, Colorado where he had been living with his family for three years. Neal is being held in the El Paso County Jail in Colorado. It was our intention to see James Alan Neal stand trial and answer for the murder of Linda Ann OKeefe. "We want as many sets of eyes on that sketch as possible, so somebody can recognize the face of a killer so we can get justice.". "I'm sure they're going through a lot of grieving of their own.". It is not clear if Neal, 72, will waive extradition, Spitzer said. "It is bittersweet to hear that, yes, this case has been resolved. The girl, whose body was found the next day, was strangled. As a result of surveillance and other traditional detective techniques, they were able to get additional DNA which resulted in the corroboration of the DNA from the victims body, to the DNA sample that the suspect left during a particular location during surveillance activities, the Orange County district attorney said after Neals arrest in February 2019. In July, on the 45th anniversary of O'Keefe's death, the Newport Beach Police Department "live-tweeted" Linda's story - in her voice, from the perspective of her last day - in the hope of raising awareness about her cold case and shaking forth any new clues about her killer. He's now the suspect in the 1973 murder of 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WATCH LIVE: Retrial for Florida man Eric Robinson accused of brutal love triangle murder, Law&Crime Looks Ahead to 10 Remarkable Criminal Trials Scheduled for the First Half of 2023, 9 Shocking Times Defendants Testified at Trial, 10 Most Memorable Law&Crime Network Trials, Man busted after $3M worth of drugs mysteriously showed up to restaurant, Police officer who did not show up for work found shot to death in his house along with his newlywed wife, Justice for Katelyn. We never gave up.. Linda O'Keefe. Both of O'Keefe's parents have since died, but the girl was survived by two sisters, whom police had contacted with updates about Neal's arrest. The child disappeared while walking home from summer school, and her body was found strangled in a ditch the next day. Anyone with additional information about the OKeefe case or who believes they may be a victim of Neal is asked to call the NBPD Cold Case Tip Line at 949-644-3669.. 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. Last year, 45 years after O'Keefe's body was found, police released these sketches of her suspected killer. Neals extensive criminal history and the circumstances of the 1973 sexual assault and murder of 11-year-old Linda OKeefe lead law enforcement to seek potential additional victims and witnesses. US Man James Neal Arrested After Police Tweet Re-Creation Of Girl A woman later told police she saw O'Keefe standing next to a turquoise van and talking to the driver -- a white man in his mid-20s or early 30s. On one hand, we were grateful that we could have that conversation and provide some closure.". "The tweets extend the period of time that Linda's story can be out there for people to relate to," Manzella said in July. Spitzer refused to elaborate on how they were able to track down Neal and identify him as a suspect after 45 years, but he said police had received a "pointer notification through genealogical DNA" - perhaps suggesting that authorities had come upon DNA from someone related to Neal that would have implicated him as a possible match. Her body was found the next day -- but decades went by without an arrest. She was raped and then strangled to death. After a move to California in 1956, James started getting into trouble. 'She listens, but hears nothing more. James Neal, Linda O'Keefe Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 11-year-old Linda OKeefe was kidnapped on her way back from home in July 1973. If he pursues these goals conscientiously and stays away from downtown Santa Ana where associates congregate, he feels he will never again become involved in difficulty, the probation officer wrote. The arrest seemed to signal an end to an infamous cold case that had both haunted and motivated "generations of investigators" at the Newport Beach Police Department, Lewis said. Records obtained by the Southern California News Group show that Neal was arrested more than a dozen times in California, Florida and Colorado from 1959 to 1974. IE 11 is not supported. But that day, she was dropped off. He was released from the penitentiary in July 1971. Man Accused of Killing 11-Year-Old Linda O'Keefe in Newport Beach Dies "The hit on the genealogical DNA came back and hit in January so it was very recent," Spitzer said. It was our intention to see James Alan Neal stand trial and answer for the murder of Linda Ann OKeefe, Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis said. 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. Shortly after Lindas murder, investigators recovered DNA evidence from her remains, Spitzer said. DNA recovered from O'Keefe shortly after her death was put into the Combined DNA Index System the law enforcement database known as CODIS but there was no hit, said Spitzer. It was our intention to see James Alan Neal stand trial and answer for the murder of Linda An OKeefe, Newport Beach police Chief Jon Lewis said. DNA leads to arrest in half century-old cold case murder of 11-year-old "He seemed like a good guy," Neal's landlord, Michael Thulson,. Records reveal Neal was arrested on Sept. 9, 1973, in Marion County, Florida, on a fraud charge for writing a bad check and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The lead bringing officials to Neal came after these sketches were released, authorities said Wednesday. Colorado Man Arrested in 1973 Killing of 11-Year-Old Girl Featured in OKeefe, 11, was abducted on July 6, 1973, as she walked home from summer school, the Newport Beach, California, Police Department said. 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. The DNA sample from her dress was entered into the CODIS system in 2001 but came up empty, he said. Her strangled body was found the next day. James Alan Neal, 72, of Monument, Colorado, who was arrested for allegedly murdering Linda OKeefe in Newport Beach, California, in 1973. Investigators would later learn that the girl had last been seen at an intersection, talking to a stranger in a turquoise van. Anyone who may have any information on this unsolved crime is asked to call the Newport Beach Police Cold Case Tip Line at 949-644-3669. Cold Case Suspect In Newport Beach Child Death Dies Before Trial Blashaw did not explain what this sickness was but elaborated that the inmate did not have COVID-19 symptoms. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted. "My hope is that this [case] brings hope to other families who haven't had closure yet.". "I'll get to be with them again," she added. Based on a witness statement, it was believed a man in a van kidnapped Linda. Her parents checked with friends and searched the neighborhood and the path she took home to no avail, Lewis said. James Alan Neal fue arrestado el 19 de febrero de 2019, en relacin con su muerte, segn anunciaron los fiscales en una conferencia de prensa. Sister of victim in 1973 cold case murder speaks out after suspect 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Man charged with killing 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe in 1973 cold-case He worked odd jobs as a cook, factory worker, a floral delivery person, etc., but could never consistently hold down a job. Her image hung among the faces of other unsolved cases, reminding each. O'Keefe was last seen alive on July 6, 1973, as she walked home from summer school, the Newport Beach Police Department said. Teen Was Murdered After Coming Home from Grocery Store in 1975, Coffee Cup Leads to Arrest, Calif. In July 1973, 11-year-old Linda Ann O'Keefe was murdered. Newport Beach police released this undated image of Linda O'Keefe in an effort to get assistance from the public to help solve her murder in Southern California in July 1973. Newport Beach police in July released a sketch of a man, the possible suspect, based on DNA collected at the scene. He was transferred to a local. Nothing he said made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. O'Keefe's parents have since died, Spitzer said, but her sisters have been notified about the arrest. She loved animals, playing the piano, and painting. Linda O'Keefe murder: Police Twitter campaign helps lay a trap for the Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP. 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