25-year-old Christine Franke was found murdered in her apartment in Orlando (FL) 17 years ago.
Christine studied at the University of Central Florida and worked as a waitress in a bar. 21 Oct 2001 she returned home after a night shift. The next day, relatives have sounded the alarm: she didn’t answer the phone. A friend came to check on Christine, found the front door open, and the apartment — the girl’s body. Christine was shot, the killer took out of the house about $300.
And now, 17 years later, thanks to modern technology , DNA examination, the police were able to arrest the suspect — 38-year-old Benjamin L. Holmes. He has been charged with murder 1st degree.
OPD is happy to announce that working in conjunction with FDLE, @ParabonSnapshot and genetic genealogists, we have made an arrest in the 2001 murder of Christine Franke. pic.twitter.com/0bLiwhf1iK
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) November 5, 2018
The identity of the alleged offender was identified using an open DNA database where people looking for their relatives.
Company Parabon Nanolabs (Virginia) entered into the database the decryption of DNA from the crime scene and identified 3 probable relatives of the murderer. Investigators began to examine their surroundings and eventually figured out the suspect. Detective Michael fields received a warrant to fence his DNA sample matched with that found at the crime scene 17 years ago.
Mother Christine Franke thanked the detectives who almost 2 decades does not leave attempts to solve the murder of her daughter. «I was sure that he probably already died. Thought, we’ll never know what happened,» said Tina Franke.
Since 2001 Benjamin L. Holmes was arrested 14 times but all offences were minor and did not require obtaining a sample of DNA.
«It’s horrible to be in the dark. I mean that this man could live right around the corner, we could see him every day and know nothing. I’m glad he’s behind bars and will never hurt you,» added Tina Franke.
We will remind, earlier in Louisiana, DNA has helped to solve a murder 19 years later: found the culprit in the death row.
