Dallas police arrested a 56-year-old man Friday in the 1993 killing of a woman who was slain inside her home, after DNA testing of evidence from the decades-old case helped investigators identify a suspect.
Gary Len Ross faces a capital murder charge in the death of 55-year-old Tommie Davis, according to the Dallas Police Department. He was being held at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Davis was found dead May 18, 1993, inside her home in the 1500 block of Haskell Avenue. Police said she had been beaten with a piece of lumber and slashed with a knife.
Investigators found minor damage to the front door and determined items were missing from the home, but the case eventually went cold.
More than three decades later, Dallas homicide detective Andrea Isom reviewed the case and submitted evidence for additional forensic testing.
A break came when investigators determined blood found on a wall inside Davis’ home did not belong to her, police said. A DNA profile developed from the blood was entered into the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, and matched a person identified as Tommy Lynn Jones.
Investigators later determined Jones was an alias used by Ross, according to police.
Based on the DNA evidence and Ross’ connection to Davis, which police did not elaborate on, detectives obtained an arrest warrant. Ross was arrested Oct. 2. It is not known whether he has an attorney.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Isom at 214-671-3701 or andrea.isom@dallaspolice.gov.