Silent witness: who provided unexpected but valuable help in solving the crime? (6 photos)

Patricia Ann Ross moved to the city of La Palma (California) in hope to build a better future. But the woman's dreams were not destined come true.





Events unfolded at the end of 1974. Young an attractive woman left Arizona almost lightly, to leave behind the bitter experience of a failed marriage. Ann, how called her relatives, quickly made friends in a new place. At work the woman also showed her best side. There were also changes in personal life, but until they fully happened, Ann devoted time favorite dog Jody.



Ann and her dog Jody

December 11, 1974, was a hectic day at work. Ann was offered to lead the Los Angeles headquarters, and she dedicated time to study the documentation. There were also plans for the evening - a date. Returning home, she began to prepare for the release. The date must was to be double, so the girl prepared especially carefully so that appear before the chosen one in all its splendor.



The house where Ross lived

When Ross didn't show up at the appointed time, her friend worried, knowing Ann's responsibility and punctuality. And asked her boyfriend Rod to check if everything is in order. He took a spare from Shari key and left. Half an hour later, he received a call.

Tragedy



Ann's apartments

Judging by the picture, the woman was taken by surprise and pulled out of baths. The unfortunate woman was subjected to violence before her death. On site crime, bloodstains were found, presumably belonging to killer.

Remarkably, the brave little Jody rushed to hostess protection. And bit the attacker, because her hair too was covered in blood. But the offender did not deal with the animal, but put it in a chest of drawers and locked it.



The box where the dog was locked

The case stalled, there were no suspects, because there were no women and ill-wishers, not to mention enemies. Traces of hacking were absent. That is, she either let the killer herself in, or forgot to lock it up. door, or he had a key.

The DNA analysis technique was not yet used. And samples have been waiting in the wings for over 20 years. Only after the indicated time was created DNA profile of a person whose blood samples matched those found on dog fur.

The new detectives carefully studied the case. And in sight got a guy named Larry Stevens - a friend of the neighbor's guy upstairs. She and her boyfriend had an alibi. And their friend, who often visited visiting a neighbor, hastily fled after Ann's murder.

In addition, it turned out that he showed a tendency to violence - he beat his ex-wife, who filed in connection with this divorce.

This is all for you…



Larry in his youth and at the time of his arrest

The police were unable to obtain a warrant for the seizure of a DNA sample. The case turned up only in 2015, when the next wife Larry accused him of violence. The DNA result, as expected, matched blood samples found at the scene of Ann's murder in 1974.

The man was arrested. It didn't take the jury an hour to pass judgment: guilty. Larry, who at that time was already 65 years old, went to jail forever.

The truth only became known through selflessness animal. After all, the victim, who was taken by surprise, could not resist so that some traces remain at the crime scene offender: hair, blood, skin particles.

And little Jody, who bit him, got it that way sample. Which, even after years, but helped to find the killer and to restore justice. The age of a dog is short, and Jody is no longer alive. until that time. But in recent years, a brave little dog, not afraid to attack a big man, lived out in the care and love of friend of the deceased owner.