Alan Lefferts, 71, was arrested on May 31, 2022 for the July 2, 1996 murder of James Branner in Tallahassee, Florida.
Branner, 44, was found deceased at the Prince Murat Hotel. Police state that there was evidence that Branner was murdered after an altercation in the motel room. The cause of death was found to be asphyxiation. Investigators collected biological evidence at the time of the homicide, but have not stated what was the source of the sample.
The FGG investigation was conducted as a partnership between Parabon Nanolabs and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). A DNA profile suitable for genetic genealogy was prepared in 2020.
Lefferts is facing charges of first-degree murder in Tallahassee in the Leon County Court.
Sources:
Associated Press. “Florida Authorities Say DNA Helped Solve 26-Year-Old Murder.” Huffington Post, June 1, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-lefferts-arrest-dna-murder_n_6297c710e4b016c4eef4ec52.
Cann, Christopher. “DNA Leads Tallahassee Police to Arrest Man on Murder Charge in 25-Year-Old Cold Case.” Tallahassee Democrat, June 1, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2022/06/01/tpd-arrests-man-murder-charge-25-year-old-cold-case-tallahassee-leon-county-shooting-cold-case/7469518001/.
Mueller, Pat. “Murder Arrest Made in 25-Year-Old Tallahassee Cold Case.” WCTV News, June 1, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.wctv.tv/2022/06/01/murder-arrest-made-25-year-old-tallahassee-cold-case/.
Tallahassee Police Department. “Tallahassee Police Make Arrest in 25-Year-Old Cold Case: Genetic Genealogy Leads to Break in Case.” Tallahassee Government (Press Release), June 1, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022. https://www.talgov.com/publicsafety/News/5281.aspx.