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Man arrested in connection with 2016 homicide case in Avondale area
Posted
Independent Newsmedia
A man is in custody following a yearslong search for a suspect into a homicide in the Avondale area.
On Friday, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tony Tyrone Reed, 60, after his DNA profile matched the DNA recovered from a homicide victim back in 2016, according to a release.
On Nov. 9, 2016, MCSO responded to a call regarding a dead body in the area of 107th and Southern avenues. Deputies located a dead female, and detectives from the Homicide Unit assumed the investigation with assistance of the MCSO Crime Laboratory.
The victim was later identified as Sabrina Rollins, 39, who had been released from the Lower Buckeye Jail less than two days before her body was discovered.
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner determined Ms. Rollins died as a result of gunshot wounds and submitted a sexual assault kit to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory. The laboratory developed a male DNA profile from DNA contained in the sexual assault kit, but no suspect was identified at that time.
In April 2019, after discussions with MCSO, the lab conducted a familial DNA analysis — a search of the Arizona DNA Arrestee and Convicted Offender database for a potential relative of the unidentified suspect. In November 2019, the laboratory provided the results of the familial DNA analysis, which led detectives to Mr. Reed, according to the release.
MCSO detectives contacted Mr. Reed, who denied any involvement in the homicide. Days later, detectives executed a search warrant to obtain DNA sample from Mr. Reed, which was submitted to the state crime lab for comparison to DNA recovered from the victim.
Based on the comparison, Mr. Reed was identified as a suspect in the murder, MCSO states.
“The success of identifying a suspect in this investigation demonstrates the professional collaboration and hard work between the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Paul Penzone stated.
Mr. Reed was jailed in lieu of a $750,000 bond. His next court date is May 4.
