Man Arrested for 1977 Strangulation Murders

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Authorities have charged 73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander in connection with the strangulation deaths of three women in Southern California in 1977, following a DNA match that has reignited interest in the cold case. Alexander, who was extradited from North Carolina, made his initial court appearance on Thursday, with his arraignment on three counts of first-degree murder postponed until August 21. He is currently being held without bail. The victims, all sex workers from Ventura County, were found murdered through ligature strangulation, a method that has raised concerns about potential additional victims. District Attorney Erik Nasarenko revealed that the first victim, Velvet Sanchez, was discovered in Oxnard on September 8, 1977, followed by Lorraine Rodriguez on December 27 in an unincorporated area. Despite initial investigations, leads had gone cold for decades. The breakthrough came when DNA evidence linked Alexander to the murders after being uploaded to a national database. Investigative genealogy had previously identified him as a suspect in a separate cold case from 1992 involving Nona Cobb in North Carolina. A prior query in 2006 had failed to yield a match, highlighting the advancements in forensic technology that have now enabled law enforcement to revisit these long-unsolved cases. Authorities emphasize that the investigation is ongoing, with a commitment to pursuing all available leads. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in solving historical crimes and the potential for justice, even after many years.