DNA match nets arrest in '97 Boulder rape, murder
Suspect nabbed a decade after attack
By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 28, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated January 28, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.
Photo by Linda McConnell © Special To The Rocky
Fresh daffodils adorn a memorial for Susannah Chase in Boulder's Greenleaf Park. Police arrested a man Sunday they believe raped and beat Chase, a 23-year-old University of Colorado student, in 1997. She died hours after the attack of severe head injuries.
Photo by Boulder Police Department
A baseball bat, thought to be the murder weapon, was found near Chase's home in 1997.
Susannah Chase
Diego Olmos-Alcalde
Police on Sunday said they finally have nabbed the man they believe savagely raped and beat a 23-year-old University of Colorado student with a baseball bat then left her for dead a decade ago as she walked home alone after getting pizza early one December morning.
Susannah Chase's 1997 slaying stunned a city still reeling from the murder of 6-year-old beauty queen and elementary school student JonBenet Ramsey, whose body was found inside her family's Tudor-style home on University Hill a year earlier.
Police said they recovered DNA from semen left on Chase's body after she was discovered in a downtown alley a block from her home in the early hours of Dec. 21, 1997.
The young woman, known for her sunny disposition, had suffered massive head injuries. She never regained consciousness and died the following day.
On Thursday, detectives got the news they had been awaiting for 10 long years: There was a DNA match linking 38-year-old Diego Olmos-Alcalde, a Chilean native with Denver-area ties, to Chase's slaying.
Police said Olmos-Alcalde was released from prison in Wyoming in July after serving seven years in connection with a kidnapping charge that has eerie similarities to the attack on Chase.
He was first turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in July, but his immigration status was unclear Sunday, Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner said.
Arrested in Aurora
"Obviously, the department is ecstatic over this," Beckner said. "When you solve a case like this, it's always a great feeling and makes policing worthwhile. . . . We're grateful now to have the opportunity to find justice for Susannah and her family."
Detectives from Aurora and Boulder picked up Olmos-Alcalde without incident on a parole violation as he left his mother's Aurora residence Saturday morning. They pulled him over and made the arrest in the parking lot of Aurora's Wheel Skate Park.
At 10:45 a.m. Sunday, detectives served him with an arrest warrant at the Boulder County jail on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault in connection with the Chase case. He is being held on a $5 million bond.
A check of Colorado Court records reveals that Denver police arrested Olmos-Alcalde on an unrelated first-degree sexual assault charge on Jan. 16, 1998, less than a month after Chase's murder.
Prosecutors later dismissed that charge and Olmos-Alcalde pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon. Details of that case were not available Sunday.
Wyo. woman attacked
Olmos-Alcalde was an inmate in Wyoming for nearly seven of the 10 years in which Boulder detectives tried to solve the Chase killing.
He was sentenced to 12 to 20 years in prison in May 2001 after being convicted of the Aug. 10, 2000, kidnapping of a Cheyenne woman in a parking lot outside her apartment.
According to court records, after parking his car so the woman could not move her car, Olmos-Alcalde approached her, claiming to be lost. While she tried to give him directions, he lunged at her, pinned her inside the car and began choking her.
She hit the car horn twice, but he was able to drag her about 15 to 20 feet toward a privacy fence. The sound of the horn, however, alerted the woman's father, who chased after Olmos-Alcalde.
Police caught him a short time later and both father and daughter were able to identify him as the assailant.
A jury convicted him in December 2000, but in August 2003 the Wyoming Supreme Court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. The high court ruled the trial judge had erred by allowing an alternate juror to join deliberations in progress after another juror fell ill.
According to Wyoming State Corrections records, Olmos-Alcalde was resentenced in September 2004 to seven to 10 years, with credit for time served.
Wyoming corrections spokeswoman Melinda Brazzale said records indicate that Olmos-Alcalde was paroled in July 2007 and turned over to ICE officials. Those records did not indicate whether he was deported, she said. Instead, Wyoming authorities issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
DNA, false confession
Boulder investigators learned in 2004 that the suspect could be Hispanic or Native American after sending the DNA specimen from Chase's body to DNAPrint Genomics in Florida. For 10 years, they knew that the mysterious DNA held a critical key to solving the crime.
Susannah Chase's parents, Hal and Julie Chase, of Stamford, Conn., did not attend a Sunday news conference announcing the arrest, but issued a statement thanking all of the detectives involved for their persistence and dedication.
"As you might imagine, our emotions have run the gamut since we first heard of the DNA match in Susannah's case," the statement read. "We are delighted that a suspect has been identified and apprehended."
Since Chase's death, detectives have interviewed more than 500 people, collected fluid or hair samples from more than 30 people for DNA comparisons, and followed up on hundreds of tips without a solid lead. One hundred people were ruled out as possible suspects.
Chase's boyfriend initially was the prime suspect, but he had an alibi and his DNA didn't match crime-scene evidence. A homeless man who was in the alley where Chase was found also was interviewed immediately after the attack, but his DNA didn't match, either, and he also had an alibi.
Kelly Ray Thompson confessed in February 1998 - while being held on first-degree murder charges in Tacoma, Wash. - to killing Chase, but his confession was determined to be a hoax.
Bloody baseball bat
Chase, an American studies major who loved listening to the Grateful Dead and pondered opening an ice cream shop one day, was last seen walking toward her home from Abo's Pizza, then at 950 Pearl St., about 1:40 a.m. following an argument with her boyfriend.
Less than an hour later, a witness heard a woman moaning in the alley between Spruce and Pearl streets. She didn't call police, however. At 3:40 a.m., a second person who heard the moans called 911.
Police found Chase shortly thereafter, her face covered in blood. Nearby, her handprints marked a garage and car where she had tried to pull herself up.
She was pronounced brain dead at 8:23 a.m. at Boulder Community Hospital from injuries that included four skull fractures.
That same morning, police found a second crime scene and a bloody baseball bat across the street from Chase's home. Police believe she was attacked, then dragged about 45 feet south down 18th Street - based on a streak of blood found on the sidewalk - and forced into a vehicle.
Police said they don't believe Olmos-Alcalde ever lived in Boulder. Beckner said he never surfaced as a possible suspect until last week.
Beckner would not disclose details, but said investigators also have other evidence linking him to Chase's brutal attack. He said detectives have interviewed him in jail.
Still, investigators want anyone with knowledge of his movements in Boulder during that time to call police. They also want to know where he was living in December 1997, who he hung out with, what vehicles he drove and where he traveled.
Detective Chuck Heidel, whose first murder case in Boulder was that of Susannah Chase, said there remains a lot of work to do to prepare for trial.
"There will be a lull now," Heidel said. "We can take our breath, then get ready for the prosecution. The investigation is taking on another phase."
Help the police
* Anyone with information about the crime or suspect is asked to call Detective Chuck Heidel at 303-441-3330. Those with information who wish to remain anonymous should call Boulder County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
By the numbers*
10 years have passed since the crime.
100 people have been considered and dismissed as suspects in the case.
200 pieces of evidence have been collected.
17,520 hours have been put into investigating the case.
Following the case
* September 1998: Chase's death sparks a safety effort on the CU campus called "Think Safe, Be Safe." More emergency call boxes and lighting are added on campus and along the Boulder Creek bike path.
* October 1998: The case is submitted for review by the Colorado Homicide Investigators Association, which offers suggestions but doesn't find any wrongdoing by Boulder police.
* Dec. 21, 1998: Chase's family dedicates a bench near her hometown of Stamford, Conn., on the one-year anniversary of her murder.
* November 2000: Tests by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation rule out any connection between a bat found buried in Niwot to the Chase slaying. The bat is found in the former yard of a man who was questioned as a potential witness and later cleared of any involvement in the case.
* Jan. 8, 2001: Famed crime scientist Dr. Henry Lee spends a day in Boulder looking for new angles in the case. Police also make public, for the first time, photographs of the worn-out, child-size Louisville Slugger baseball bat they believe was the murder weapon.
* January 2004: New DNA tests done on semen recovered from Chase's body show the suspect to be of Hispanic or American Indian origin. The semen does not belong to Chase's boyfriend or anyone else police had identified as a possible suspect.
* Sunday: Police arrest Diego Olmos-Alcalde, 38, who faces charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault.
The Daily Camera and staff writer John C. Ensslin contributed to this report.
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January 28, 2008
3:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
gwats writes:
A tall tree and a short rope...............
January 28, 2008
6:29 a.m.
forwhatitis writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 28, 2008
7:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dave writes:
The angle of the story I would like to see explored, acknowledging the yet unproved guilt of the new suspect, is what was Diego doing in the US.
Was he here to study at CU, if so why did't he return to Chile before the attack in Wyoming happened? Was he allowed into the US because he won a lottery to come as a legal immigrant? Did he marry a US citizen? Was he here illegally? Did he come because he possessed a skill that his employers could not find among US workers?
It is my opinion that we have enough home-grown bad-guys (rapists, cop-killers, drunk drivers,etc) and do not need to have any immigrants from ANY country to come to the US to do these "jobs".
January 28, 2008
7:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
denverinfidel writes:
Everyone leave the immigrants alone. They're just here to work.
Si Se Puede folks (which is spanish for "yes we can rape, murder, rob and make a complete mockery of your laws). The real beauty of the hispanic male culture is their un-matched respect for women.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22783181/
Who wouldn't want to import more of that?
January 28, 2008
8:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
denverinfidel
your comments are right on and well researched. hard to argue with the facts.
consequently, you've established yourself quite well as a "hater" by the illegal luving crowd.
January 28, 2008
8:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
HollyGoLightly writes:
Why in the hell was this guy paroled and turned over to "ICE officials"? An immigrant with a criminal past isn't exactly going to be easy tracking nor is he going to follow conditions set forth by the parole. It's not rocket science.
January 28, 2008
8:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
peter776 writes:
And Mr. Olmos-Alcade appears to be an illegal alien as well, a fact most news media appear to steer well away from:
"There is also a question as to Alcalde's residency status. Brazzale said he had been paroled to Colorado with a detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which flags an illegal immigrant who is in custody of another law enforcement agency.
Boulder police said Alcalde's immigration status was 'unclear.'"
Isn't it time we got serious about securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws?
January 28, 2008
8:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
mcaulif4 writes:
Anyone who thinks the police don't have their man, read this story:
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/...
January 28, 2008
8:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Beau writes:
Why is every murderer a felon who has been released time and time again? This man was arrested a month after Susannah's murder and charged with sexual assault, but the case was plea bargained away. The police are doing their job, why are the lawyers letting these criminals go?
Oh, who am I kidding. Our own governor thinks that plea bargaining illegals down to "agricultural trespass" is a nifty way to enforce the law.
I applaud the dedicated police work, the painstaking evidence collection and the long hours these amazing detectives and CSI's put into this case. They have solved a mystery and brought closure to grieving parents. I hope that the "Order" part of Law&Order can see this case to justice. But I'm not holding my breath.
January 28, 2008
9:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
jvb writes:
Find a similar case:
http://www.topix.net/forum/county/ada...
Go to page 41 for the last entry alluding to this case.
January 28, 2008
10:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
HollyGoLightly writes:
9news glazed over the immigration detail. They failed to mention anything about the ICE officials, his immigration "status" or that he is from Chile.
January 28, 2008
11:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Alcalde was in the country legally. His mother was married to a US Citizen.
The court will do the job. His history is not admissible. But the DNA evidence is strong and his step-sister may share his cracked confession to her with the court.
All ethnic groups and nationalities produce bad seeds. So, quit being prejudiced against any particular one. If you want to be a racist then you are an idiot, a bad seed yourself, and no one cares what you think.
The murderer who did that to Susannah Chase needs to fry. In this case, it looks like the system is finally going to stick it to a deserving individual.
January 28, 2008
1:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
I just hope this is the guy that did this. If so, he deserves to rot in jail. He could also be here illegally? If so, we need to put more money into border patrol. I agree that America is the land of opportunity, but we have way too many illegal aliens here. They are taking jobs from Americans and we don't need them here.
January 28, 2008
1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
ikester writes:
Holier.....his mother marrying a US Citizen does NOT automatically make him a legal citizen. They would have had to go through all the immigration process in order for him to be here legally. It's very possible that he was not here legally.
January 28, 2008
1:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
joggle writes:
"Less than an hour later, a witness heard a woman moaning in the alley between Spruce and Pearl streets. She didn't call police, however."
How heartless for a person to ignore what were probably pitifully-sounding moans from another woman. I can't imagine why someone would ignore a person in distress like that, not even bothering to call the police much less directly help the suffering person.
January 28, 2008
6:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
forwhatitis writes:
He should suffer the same fate as she did once he's in jail. That's what my prior post said, with a little more detail.
January 28, 2008
6:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Frank25 writes:
None of you have mentioned who the Mayor of Denver, and the District Attorney for Denver County- and City was before 2003. Think Sanctuary City, and Mr. 97% Plea Barginer themselves. Now look back over the record of all the plea bargins this guy got. I am surprised when arrested for the Colfax caper, he was not charged with "agricultural trepass". That was case for over 200 such cases, wasn't it?
January 28, 2008
7:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
AngelontheSidelines writes:
The Boulder DA will be prosecuting?
This is the same office that could not find the Ramsey killer. What high profile cases has this office won in the last ten years?
Rape trials are no picnic, I served on a jury for the trial of two illegals accused of raping a Navajo girl. That was the single worst week of my life. The DA treated the jury like five year olds, then presented us with the most poorly prepared case imaginable. After insulting our intelligence by offering evidence, and expert testimony that supported the defense more than the prosecutor, we deliberated for a day.
Deadlocked we repeatedly voted 10-2 not guilty, two holdouts voted by emotion. No amount of logic and evidence comparisons would budge the vote. A mistrial was declared, and the defendants were released on time served, then deported.
Will Boulder be able to persuade a jury? For Susannah's family's sake I sure hope so.
January 28, 2008
7:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
whoisjohngault writes:
I know that P.D. gets alot of grief, but somebody seems to be getting their act togehter. I found this: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/...
January 28, 2008
9:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
joggle writes:
forwhatitis: "He should suffer the same fate as she did once he's in jail. That's what my prior post said, with a little more detail."
The middle ages called and they were looking for you. And if you're a Christian then you need to re-read the Bible. While there's room for punishment, there is none for retribution.
January 28, 2008
9:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
Frank and others: he was not in the country illegally. Get off it and wait for the next case, OK?
January 29, 2008
10:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
rg writes:
Yo AC: rg credits you: Diego Olmos Alcalde is born in Chili. A gringo marries his mother and they all come to America in a lawful fashion. I don't have to reveal this because it is revealed elsewhere in greater detail. The death penalty executed with rapid dispatch will prevent Diego from getting out on parole.
January 29, 2008
10:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
ONEman writes:
I will state it once again for all of you Nazis that only post comments when it involves a Latino name. Like Q and denverinfidel, I only see you on message boards where a Hispanic has committed a crime. All you bring to the table is propaganda and hate.
The actions of one scum bag is not indicative of all who share his Nationality.
denverinfidel The fact that you would take the Si Se Puede slogan and trash it for your own hateful agenda shows what kind of pig you are.
It is intended for kids to get education which was started by Chicano's not illegals.
January 29, 2008
7:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
ONEman writes:
Who the hell is talking about Tim Masters? I'm not sticking up for this guy just saying he's not a representative of the people. Ricky I think you need to stop methin around and read a little slower. Your post had nothing to do with what I said.
January 30, 2008
1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Catherine1 writes:
They need to check this Diego Olmos-Alcalde guy out concerning JonBenet's murder, too. JonBenet and Susannah were killed almost exactly one year apart in the same city. Also a baseball bat was found tossed in the Ramseys bushes, as if the killer had thrown it there as he ran from the house. Susannah was killed with a baseball bat, and JonBenet very likely was, too. Just checking the DNA against the DNA found under JonBenet's fingernails and in her underwear won't hurt. The police would be smart to do it.