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<\/p>\nInvestigators say a DNA-based investigation helped lead to an arrest more than 14 years after Chavez was found dead inside her apartment.<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 A Texas cold case that went unsolved for more than a decade has taken a major turn after investigators announced an arrest in the 2012 murder of Arlington woman Irasema Chavez.<\/p>\n
Arlington police say an arrest has been made in connection with the 2012 murder of Irasema Chavez, a case that investigators say received a breakthrough through investigative genetic genealogy. Arlington police have not yet publicly confirmed the suspect\u2019s identity in connection with Chavez\u2019s killing. The department is expected to hold a news conference Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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Chavez, 32, was found deceased inside her apartment on Jan. 20, 2012, after suffering multiple stab wounds. Investigators spent years pursuing leads but were unable to definitively identify a suspect.<\/p>\n
In November 2024, the Arlington Police Department Homicide Unit met with the FBI Dallas Field Office to discuss whether the case could benefit from the FBI\u2019s Investigative Genetic Genealogy program.<\/p>\n
The FBI agreed to assist with the investigation, and officials said the work eventually provided detectives with a significant break.<\/p>\n
“Earlier this year, their work provided detectives with a significant break in the case, which after additional investigation, led to an arrest,” Arlington police said<\/p>\n
Parabon NanoLabs previously used DNA phenotyping to create a composite image showing what the person of interest may have looked like at age 25.<\/p>\n