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Joe Contreras Arrested in 1997 San Jose Killing After DNA Match

Investigators used forensic genetic genealogy to link preserved evidence to the 75-year-old suspect.

Overview

  • San Jose police said Contreras, of Dallas, Oregon, was taken into custody on Dec. 19, 2025 and extradited to Santa Clara County.
  • He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail, is being held without bail, and was set to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.
  • A male DNA profile from the crime scene was submitted for advanced analysis in 2021, pointing to Contreras in October 2024.
  • The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s crime lab confirmed the match in February 2025 after Oregon authorities collected a reference sample.
  • Police Chief Paul Joseph and District Attorney Jeff Rosen praised the cold case work and said time does not erase responsibility.