SANTA ANA, Calif. (KTLA) -- Cold Case Homicide Detectives used DNA evidence to solve a decades-long investigation into the murder of a woman outside the Ancient Mariner restaurant in 1978. <\/p>\n
On July 10, 1978, 26-year-old Lynda Saunders and 28-year-old Michael Reynolds were seen leaving the Ancient Mariner after having a couple of drinks, according to witness accounts. <\/p>\n
Between 3:30 and 3:40 AM, the ex-manager of the Ancient Mariner, drove past and observed Reynolds vehicle in the parking lot with the interior light on, and it appeared the right rear passenger door was open. <\/p>\n
At approximately 4:20 a.m., the manager of a nearby Del Taco was cleaning out behind the restaurant when he heard Reynolds calling for help. <\/p>\n
He found Reynolds lying in the Ancient Mariner parking lot about thirty feet east of his vehicle. <\/p>\n
Reynolds told the first officer that arrived at the scene three dark guys shot him. <\/p>\n
Officers checked the area behind the Ancient Mariner and located a purse and identification belonging to Saunders. <\/p>\n
Directly to the rear of the nearby Heritage Liquor Store officers found Saunders' body. <\/p>\n
She had sustained a single, gunshot wound to the center of the chest, and blunt force trauma to the head. <\/p>\n
It was later confirmed that she had also been sexually assaulted. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Excerpt from: SANTA ANA, Calif. (KTLA) -- Cold Case Homicide Detectives used DNA evidence to solve a decades-long investigation into the murder of a woman outside the Ancient Mariner restaurant in 1978. Continue reading
\nDNA Used to Solve Decades-Old Murder Mystery<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"