Man Linked to1982 Cold Case Murder NR14261nv

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Detectives from the Cold Case Homicide Special Section of Robbery-Homicide Division arrested 51-year-old James Robert Scott for an unsolved 1982 Los Angeles Sexual Assault Murder   

LAPD detectives have been investigating the murder of 40-year-old Los Angeles resident Vivian Johnson for more than 31 years.  The victim was murdered inside her residence in the 3900 block of Welland Avenue on November 29, 1982.  The cause of death was strangulation.  The motive for the murder is unknown.

Cold Case Homicide detectives linked James Robert Scott to the murder after DNA evidence matching Scott was discovered at the crime scene.  It was later discovered that Scott was in custody on an unrelated murder at San Quentin State Prison in California.  

On July 1, 2014, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Scott for the murder of Vivian Johnson.  Scott was served with the Los Angeles County murder warrant while he was still in the custody of the California Department of Corrections.  Detectives are making arrangements to have Scott transported to Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to be arraigned on July 24, 2014.  

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Detectives Martin Mojarro or Jeffrey Allen at 213-486-6810.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”