ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Police say DNA from a man who refused to provide a sample then committed suicide links him to a 1999 North Texas slaying.
Arlington police on Friday announced DNA results from 48-year-old Jerry Shorts of Fort Worth match evidence on the victim.
Tami King in February 1999 was found fatally stabbed under a bridge in Arlington. Detectives gathered DNA evidence from her body and entered the information into a law enforcement database.
Arlington police in August were notified that the DNA belonged to Shorts, who refused to voluntarily provide a sample. Shorts fatally shot himself on Sept. 3. His DNA was secured during the autopsy.
Police received confirmation this week that DNA from Shorts matched the sample from the 1999 murder case.
Details weren’t immediately released on his criminal history.