In Santa Clara County, California, a cold case from 1994 was solved via a combination of detective work and DNA. On December 14, 2022, Thomas John Loguidice (65) was charged with felony kidnapping with intent to commit robbery, allegation of using a deadly weapon, the threat of great bodily harm, and a high degree of callousness.
California Man Linked to a 1994 Shopping Mall Robbery by DNA Evidence
On January 13, 1994, Loguidice ambushed the manager of the Oakridge Mall President Tuxedo store in San Jose. The manager had just entered the store at around 10 AM when she was forced into the storage area by the knife-wielding Loguidice.
It is alleged that Loguidice then tied the manager up, raped her, stole some money, and fled the scene. With no witness besides the victim and little evidence, the case went cold. It wouldn’t be until decades later when DNA evidence taken from the scene turned up a hit in CODIS.
At the time, Loguidice was behind bars for a 40-year sentence. He’d been arrested in 2012 for sexual abuse of child a county over in San Benito and his DNA was already in the system. Loguidice avoided a charge for sexual assault because of the statute of limitations. District Attorney Jeff Rosen spoke on law enforcement and the DA’s mission in dealing with such crimes:
“We don’t forget victims and we don’t forgive violent crime. Our message to our community is that this Office will use advancing DNA forensics, detective work, and determination to seek justice. Our message to violent criminals is: ‘Don’t do it. You won’t get away with it.’”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT6NFOasTvU
