Suspect Arrested In 1973 Newport Beach Murder

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Investigators announced the arrest of a suspect in a 1973 Newport Beach cold case murder Tuesday.

Officials declined to release details of the murder investigation prior to a Wednesday press conference with the Orange County District Attorney. However, the only active murder investigation from 1973 that Newport Beach detectives have publicly acknowledged is the murder of 11-year-old Linda O'Keefe.

Linda's murder remained a mystery for decades until last year when Newport Beach Police detectives took an innovative approach, releasing a suspect sketch based on DNA evidence from the crime scene. According to KRDO, the suspect was arrested in El Paso County, Colorado.

“As the Orange County District Attorney, I am committed to protecting the community. My office will never forget about cold cases," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. "Our hearts go out to the victim and the victim’s family in this case, having to endure decades without answers. We will make sure that the defendant is fairly and justly held accountable in a court of law.”

In the summer of 2018, Newport Beach Police Department conducted a 24-hour detailed look into the life and death of Linda O'Keefe in 1973, on the 45th anniversary of her murder. That study culminated with what the department called "a scientific approximation" of the suspect's appearance based solely on DNA.

When asked if the press conference was related to that investigation, both NBPD and OCDA's office declined to comment.

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Newport Beach Police Photo