Monday, March 18, the preacher was charged with the murder of two teenage girls that occurred almost 20 years ago.
Police in Alabama said they went to 45-year-old Koli, Makrani of Dothan, thanks to a new DNA test. He can be sentenced to death for murder and rape.
Late in the evening of 3 July 1999, Tracey Howlett and J. B. Beazley, who was 17 years old, never made it to the party that was going. Girls were found the next day in the trunk of Beasley’s car. The car was close to the road to Ozark, a city with a population of 19 thousand people, located about 90 miles Southeast of Montgomery. Both victims had gunshot wounds to the head.
The alleged victims, If Makrani: 17-year-old Tracy Howlett and J. B. Beasley.
It is known that the judge ordered, Makrani submit to a DNA analysis in about a month after the murders, because a woman filed a lawsuit, claiming he was the father of her daughter. However, the man has not provided sample and got the decision on payment of the alimony.
Last year’s arrest of Joseph-d’angelo nicknamed the «Golden state Killer», who was able to find through genealogical testing, pushed a small police Department of Alabama to send their evidence in Parabon NanoLabs of Reston (Virginia) for DNA examination. According to Ozark police chief Marlos Walker, three rounds of genetic testing has led, eventually, to the arrest of Makrani.
If, Makrani.
The attorney General of Alabama Steve Marshall said that the detainee has no criminal record, and he wasn’t a suspect before conducting the DNA test. The main genetic genealogist Parabon NanoLabs, CECE Moore reported that at least one of the relatives, Makrani voluntarily sent their DNA. It helped to link man with double murder.
News of the arrest of Makrani stunned mother Howlett, Carol Roberts. The woman admitted that she was speechless when I first heard the news.
«We were just in shock. We still have a long way to go, ‘ said Roberts. — He had no right to do that. I just want to know?? why?»
The woman told me that still remembers his last conversation with his daughter.
«Her last words were: «Mom, I love you,» recalls Roberts. Last words flying from my mouth were: «I love you»».
As reported by the suspect’s lawyer David Harrison, his client, who was a preacher in his own Church, cooperating with the police.
«I sympathize with the families of the victims, said Harrison. Is a tragedy. But we don’t need to create a third tragedy, condemning him.»
Defender of Makrani noted that his client is an outstanding member of the community, he has grandchildren and he used to work as a truck driver for several companies. Despite this, the district attorney kirk Adams said that seeking the death penalty for the preacher, adding that the allegations against him included the murder of Beasley during the rape.
