Navy veteran's 1987 murder solved after suspect who gave DNA sample dies by suicide, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-veteran-cold-case-murder-solved-suspect-dna-dies-suicide/)
16-09-2026
The 1987 cold-case murder of U.S. Navy veteran Orison James “Jim” Chafin has been solved after nearly four decades.Key Details of the Case:
- The Crime (1987): Chafin, a 54-year-old veteran of the Korean War, was found dead on August 8, 1987, in a cemetery in Glendale, Arizona. His throat had been cut, and he was found wearing only socks. Witnesses reported seeing a sedan parked nearby that drove away as they approached. Detectives recovered evidenceincluding beer bottles and cigarette buttsthat yielded male DNA profiles, but no matches were found at the time.
- The Reopened Investigation (2025–2026): The case was reopened in 2025 by investigators, who eventually identified Gary Wayne Billups as a suspect. Billups had never been interviewed during the initial investigation in 1987. Although he initially declined to talk to police, investigators tracked him down in the West Valley area of Phoenix in June.
- The Interview and DNA Match: During his interview with authorities, Billups denied knowing Chafin or living in Glendale in 1987, contradictory to police arrest records and evidence showing he and Chafin had spent time together at a local bar the afternoon before the murder. Before being released, Billups voluntarily provided a DNA sample.
- Outcome: The DNA sample came back as a positive match to the evidence preserved from the crime scene. However, Billups died by suicide just days after providing the sample, preventing prosecutors from filing formal criminal charges.