Dallas police make arrest in 30-year-old cold case
DALLAS - Dallas police have made an arrest in a 1993 murder case after additional forensic testing led to the identification of a suspect.
Gary Len Ross, 56, was arrested Friday and charged with capital murder.
The backstory:
On May 18, 1993, 55-year-old Tommie Davis was found murdered inside her home on Haskell Avenue. Police said Davis had been beaten with a board and slashed with a knife.
An autopsy revealed she suffered multiple skull, rib, and facial fractures, as well as stab wounds.
Authorities also noticed broken vases and debris scattered around her home and blood droplets on a door and the walls.
According to police, the only investigative leads were some missing items and damage to the front door, indicating that someone had forced their way inside.
Detectives began to reinvestigate the case more than 30 years later, and it was discovered that blood on a wall inside the home did not belong to Davis. A match to the blood came back to Tommy Lynn Jones. Investigators determined that the name was an alias used by Ross.
Dig deeper:
Ross had a previous history of theft and attempted murder, according to an affidavit.
When interviewed, detectives said Ross confirmed that he had been to Davis' home a few days before her death, but denied involvement.
Detectives said his story was inconsistent with other information gathered and that Ross could not explain how his blood was found in the victim's home.
He was taken into custody following the interview at Dallas Police Headquarters.
What they're saying:
"The Dallas Police Department is committed to pursuing justice in every case, no matter how much time has passed," said Major Bobbie Epperson of the Dallas Police Department’s CAPERS Unit. "Detective Isom’s meticulous and persistent work exemplifies the dedication of our CAPERS Unit. We hope this arrest brings a measure of closure to Ms. Davis’s family and serves as a reminder that justice will always be pursued."
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Dallas Police Department and an arrest affidavit.