Man Charged In 2009 Rape, Murder Of 12-Year-Old Girl
(CBS) -- Chicago Police say they have solved a cold case murder the 2009 beating and strangulation of a 12-year-old Englewood girl.
It's the DNA that implicates 47-year-old Rene Valentine-Matos in the death of Jahmeshia Conner.
Police had to work their way back to the murder from a 2011 rape case in which Valentin-Matos' name surfaced. Area Central Lieutenant Ozzie Valdez says the DNA in that case matched DNA found on Jahmeshia's body.
Man Charged In 2009 Rape, Murder Of 12-Year-Old Girl
"We had investigative leads that led us to believe that it was him after the second assault. Our detectives did a phenomenal job locating him in Minnesota. We went out there, we interviewed him and we got what we needed from him, came back, reviewed it with the states attorney's office. After several months, a long ordeal, he fought extradition, he lost it, was brought back to Chicago," said Valdez.
Valdez says Valentin-Matos worked at the time as a janitor at the church the girl's family attended and can be placed as close as half a block from her home.
Birdie Lewis has waited five years to finally see the face of the man police believe murdered her daughter.
"I'm glad. I got my wish," said Lewis. "Happy Mother's Day to me."
The suspect is scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday and Lewis says she will be there.
