Annual Report 2006 - San Diego County District Attorney

The Cold Case Homicide Division continued itsoutstanding work in 2006, delivering a 100percent conviction rate. The division had its busiestyear since its inception, taking five cases to trialand receiving guilty verdicts in each case. In a sixthcase, the defendants pleaded guilty to two counts offirst-degree murder, admitted a special circumstanceallegation, and were sentenced to life in prisonwithout the possibility of parole.…solving these cases brings anelement of closure to familieswhose lives have been shatteredby tragedy…Solving these cold cases not only delivers justice, butalso brings an element of closure to families whoselives have been shattered by tragedy. The Cold CaseHomicide Division has closed the file on more than adozen unsolved murders since it was established in2003. Led by Division Chief Jeff Dusek, many hours ofinvestigation and tremendous amounts of patiencecontinue to go into solving these crimes.The division also maintains a close workingrelationship with law enforcement agenciesthroughout San Diego County, including policelaboratory criminalists. Ongoing investigationsrequire prosecutors and investigators to travel tocities all over the United States.Of the division’s 2006 cases, three deserve specialmention: Deputy District Attorney Paul Myerssecured a conviction against a Los Angeles mancharged with first-degree murder. The defendant wasfound guilty of stabbing Antonio Ayala, 20, to deathOutstanding AchievementAward 2006Deputy District AttorneyGarland PeedSan Diego Deputy District AttorneysAssociationduring a robbery in his San Diego apartment in 1991.DNA found on a ski mask left at the scene was linkedto the defendant 13 years later.In 1995, Pamela Shelley was found shot to death ina Chula Vista park. A DNA hit tied two Navy sailorsto the attack, who were successfully prosecuted byDeputy District Attorney Garland Peed.DNA also helped the division solve a 1988 murder.Janet Moore was found stabbed to death in herapartment. The suspect had cut himself duringthe attack, leaving his blood behind. Investigatorsmatched the suspect’s blood to DNA found in aFlorida sexual assault case. Ultimately, the defendantwas identified and brought to justice by DeputyDistrict Attorney Andrea Freshwater.Cold Case Homicide Division2006 StaffingAttorneys 3Investigators 4Paralegals 1Support Staff 1Student Workers 1TOTAL 102006 Felony Conviction RateCases Received 5Cases Issued 5Cases to Trial 4Conviction Rate 100%San Diego County District Attorney 19