Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: July 30, 2004

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CODIS DATABASE BREAKS COLD CASE

On March 15, 1999 members of the Shreveport Police Department were called to the scene of a homicide at 437 Woodrow Street. There they discovered the body of Albert Marston, the resident, who had died from trauma to head.

A followup investigation was conducted which included interviews of neighbors and collection of evidence from the scene. As no viable suspect was developed the case went cold.

Evidence collected at the scene by the Shreveport Police Crime Scene Unit and evidence collected from the body by the Caddo Coroner's Office was sent to the Northwest Regional Crime Lab for DNA analysis. That analysis resulted in a unidentified DNA profile believed to be that of the homicide suspect. This DNA profile was later entered in the CODIS database.

Five years passed and about two weeks ago the Crime lab was informed of a cold case hit and match to DNA submitted in an unrelated crime. That DNA matched the DNA of Cornelius Williams B/M dob 10/3/63. Williams was located yesterday, 7/29/04, and questioned. Information obtained in the interview places Williams at the location of the crime.

Williams was arrested and charged with the second degree murder of Albert Marston. Investigation continuing.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews