2012 Pennsylvania Cold Case Solved with DNA Evidence

Advancements in DNA forensics and facial recognition technology lead to the arrest of Vallis L. Slaughter for a decade-old murder.

A decade-old cold case was solved when DNA from a cigarette butt discarded by Vallis L. Slaughter matched DNA from a Styrofoam cup found at a 2012 murder scene.
Vallis L. Slaughter, 39, was arrested at his mother's home in New Jersey and charged with murder, aggravated assault, and conspiracy.
The murder of Julio Torres in 2012 outside a Pennsylvania diner remained unsolved for over a decade until recent advancements in DNA forensics.
Investigators used facial recognition software on a cell phone photo from 2012 to identify Slaughter as a suspect.
Slaughter is also a suspect in a separate homicide in Brooklyn, adding to the complexity of the case.