DNA in Mask Links to Snellville Murder Suspect Six Years Later

A local man has been charged in the murder of a Snellville business owner from six years ago after a DNA match was able to provide evidence for the crime.

According to Snellville Police, Altora Jabba Roane, 31, has been indicted for felony murder among other charges after an assistant district attorney presented the case to a grand jury this week. 

Domingo Alfredo Espinal, 52, was found deceased on the floor when officers arrived at A&B Auto at 2784 W. Main Street around 3:30 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007. His son said a man wearing a "Scream" mask had entered the business and demanded money. A fight ensued, and the suspect shot the boy's father in the head. The son gave the man an empty envelope, and he left. 

A K9 unit collected a sweatshirt, mask and gloves that matched the suspect's description in the woodline near the business. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation found that the mask contained a mixture of DNA from two men, and they didn't have the equipment to separate the DNA or provide a match.

Months later, a Snellville officer working in the municipal court saw Roane on a failure-to-appear warrant. He'd also been arrested by Gwinnett County Police for an armed robbery where he allegedly wore a Halloween mask. Roane matched the suspect description given by Espinal's son, and he lived close to the auto shop.

The officer went to Roane's home and saw a vehicle with a drive out tag from A&B Auto. After he denied knowledge of the crime, police obtained a search warrant and a DNA sample from Roane. 

His DNA was tested against the ones found in the mask at a lab in Texas, and the results indicated a match.

Roane is currently serving a prison sentence, according to the release, but a grand jury has indicted Roane of the incident. He's been charged with two counts of felony murder, single counts of criminal attempt to commit a crime and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.