Parolee Linked to Cold-Case Murder

Los Angeles: Detectives from LAPD’s Cold Case squad arrested 45-year-old Richard Bojorques, Jr., on February 21, 2007, after they linked him to the 1997 murder of a woman in Eagle Rock.

"The break came at an opportune time," said Cold Case Detective Rick Jackson. "Bojorques was being released on parole on January 5 this year when we were notified that his DNA matched evidence found at the scene of this unsolved murder."

The partially clothed body of 49-year-old Veronica Fuentes Linasero was found on the grounds of the Vida Nueva Christian Church in Eagle Rock on October 19, 1997. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. Linasero resided in Eagle Rock, where Bojorques visited often.

Cold case detectives submitted DNA evidence from the file in 2002, but did not receive an answer linking Bojorques to the murder until last November. Detectives conducted several other tests to corroborate the initial finding, then arrested Bojourques at his parole agent’s office in Pasadena.

Bojorques has a number of felony convictions, mostly related to burglary and narcotics violations. He is a resident of Pasadena.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of sodomy and one count of murder with special circumstances against Bojourques, who is currently in the Los Angeles County Jail, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

"The DNA technology has been a boon to policing and solving murders," Detective Jackson added. "Its use will only grow with time, and we will see many more cases solved."

Detectives Rick Jackson or Richard Bengtson can be reached at 213 847-0970.