Charles Wright was arrested Thursday on a homicide cost within the 2005 slaying of Pertina Epps.
Los Angeles County Sheriffs Division
A veteran California center college instructor has been charged in a 2005 slaying after DNA and fingerprint proof linked him to the crime scene, authorities mentioned.
Charles Wright, 56, who has been employed since 1999 with the Inglewood Unified College District, was arrested Thursday on a homicide cost within the slaying of Pertina Epps, 21, who was discovered lifeless beneath a carport in Gardena on April 26, 2005, in keeping with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Workplace.
“A citizen backing out of one of many 4 stalls within the carport found her lifeless physique in the one empty parking stall,” division officers mentioned in a press release Saturday.
A health worker later decided Epps died by strangulation. An ensuing investigation led to no suspect or arrests — and the girl’s slaying stumped detectives for years till forensic proof culled from the crime scene was reexamined utilizing “present expertise,” sheriff officers mentioned.
“DNA and fingerprint proof was decided to belong to the suspect, Charles Wright,” authorities mentioned. “In the course of the case evaluate, detectives imagine each the suspect and the sufferer didn't know one another.”
Wright, whose bail was set at $1 million, was launched later Thursday after posting bond, sheriff officers mentioned. His arraignment has been set for June 28. It’s unclear if he’s employed an legal professional who might touch upon his behalf.
However Wright denied killing Epps throughout an interview Sunday, the Los Angeles Instances reported.
The instructor, who has resigned his place from Woodworth-Monroe Academy since his arrest, mentioned detectives discovered his fingerprints on Epps’ purse as a result of he was promoting them and different gadgets from the trunk of his automotive on the time. Wright declined to handle the DNA proof allegations, in keeping with the newspaper.
“I didn’t do that,” Wright mentioned. “The factor is, all people that is aware of me is aware of I used to promote baggage and garments out of my automotive … That’s the one doable manner it might occur.”
The pinnacle of Inglewood Unified College District informed staffers and oldsters in a letter Saturday that Wright would now not be educating college students at any of its colleges. The message didn’t determine Wright by identify, however included a hyperlink to the sheriff’s workplace announcement of his arrest.
“As well as, IUSD is cooperating with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Division as they conduct a full investigation,” a district spokeswoman informed The Publish in an e-mail.
Investigators began taking one other take a look at the unsolved slaying final 12 months, sheriff officers mentioned.
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