Crime & Safety
2006 Machete Murder: Oregon Suspect Arrested With Genealogy Match
The suspect is to be arraigned for the death of 47-year-old Scott Martinez in La Mesa, officials said.
LA MESA, CA – An Oregon man arrested in connection with the 2006 machete stabbing death of a La Mesa resident in the victim's apartment is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the courthouse in El Cajon.
La Mesa police said genetic genealogy testing was used to crack the case of the June 2006 murder of 47-year-old Scott Martinez.
Police, the sheriff's crime lab and the San Diego County District Attorney's Office submitted the suspected killer's DNA to Parabon NanoLabs for the genealogy testing and the results pointed to 39-year-old Zachary Bunney, who was living in Oregon, authorities said.
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Officials did not release further information, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Bunney was extradited to San Diego County to face a murder charge.
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His arraignment, originally set for Monday, was rescheduled to Tuesday, officials said.
--City News Service/Image via Renee Schiavone