PonderingThings
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http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=4546814
Henrico Police have made an arrest in a murder that's over 29 years old.
30 years ago, Shakey's Pizza Parlour on West Broad Street, now the site of a Latino market, was the scene of the 1977 murder of Henry Long, a restaurant employee. Until now, the case remained unsolved.
"It was one of those cases that everybody really wanted to solve and technology has really come through for us so we're really excited about it," said Lieutenant Doug Perry of the Henrico Police Department.
Here's how police tell us they were able to crack the case. In 1996, Henrico Police gave Long's murder another try, re-submitting evidence from the scene to the state lab. Eight years later, in 2004 police got a DNA hit - and 61-year-old Benjamin Johnson emerged the prime suspect. But there was still work to be done.
"DNA is only one piece of the puzzle. We still have to use our investigative techniques and put the case all together, and one thing I want to say is the Commonwealth's Attorney was a great partner in this," Perry explained.
Finally on February 16, a multijurisdicitonal grand jury indicted Johnson for Long's murder. Johnson has a long criminal history that dates back to the 60's. He's currently serving a two year sentence on a gun charge. Police tell us they're glad to bring closure to the victim's family after 29 years of uncertainty.
We are told Henry Long's family has moved out of state and did not want to be interviewed for the story.
Henrico Police have made an arrest in a murder that's over 29 years old.
30 years ago, Shakey's Pizza Parlour on West Broad Street, now the site of a Latino market, was the scene of the 1977 murder of Henry Long, a restaurant employee. Until now, the case remained unsolved.
"It was one of those cases that everybody really wanted to solve and technology has really come through for us so we're really excited about it," said Lieutenant Doug Perry of the Henrico Police Department.
Here's how police tell us they were able to crack the case. In 1996, Henrico Police gave Long's murder another try, re-submitting evidence from the scene to the state lab. Eight years later, in 2004 police got a DNA hit - and 61-year-old Benjamin Johnson emerged the prime suspect. But there was still work to be done.
"DNA is only one piece of the puzzle. We still have to use our investigative techniques and put the case all together, and one thing I want to say is the Commonwealth's Attorney was a great partner in this," Perry explained.
Finally on February 16, a multijurisdicitonal grand jury indicted Johnson for Long's murder. Johnson has a long criminal history that dates back to the 60's. He's currently serving a two year sentence on a gun charge. Police tell us they're glad to bring closure to the victim's family after 29 years of uncertainty.
We are told Henry Long's family has moved out of state and did not want to be interviewed for the story.