69-year-old Carlin Edward Cornett was arrested on September 14, 2021 for the July 31, 1974 robbery and murder of 22-year-old Christy Bryant in National City, California. Bryant was working alone as a clerk in a 7-Eleven store when she was stabbed to death by an unknown person during a robbery. Bryant was working in National City at the time, after being recently discharged from the Marines.
A DNA profile of the suspect was developed from blood recovered the scene. The profile was entered into CODIS in 2008 but produced no hits.
The FGG investigation was conducted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office using an in-house genealogist working as part of the Cold Homicide and Research Genealogy Effort (CHARGE).
Cornett was detained at his home in Las Vegas. On October 25, 2021, Cornett was arraigned in San Diego County Court, where he pled not guilty to a charge of murder.
Sources:
Benitez, Clara and Brittney Donovan. “DNA Leads to Arrest in 1974 Murder of 22-Year-Old 7-Eleven Clerk.” WGN9 News Chicago, September 17, 2021. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://wgntv.com/news/dna-leads-to-arrest-in-1974-california-murder-of-22-year-old-7-eleven-clerk/.
City News Service. “Man Pleads Not Guilty to Killing National City Convenience Store Clerk in 1974.” NBC San Diego, October 28, 2021 Accessed January 14, 2023.
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-killing-national-city-convenience-store-clerk-in-1974/2768402/.
Ong, Germaine. “Las Vegas Man Arrested in Deadly 1974 Stabbing in National City.” ABC News 10 San Diego, September 16, 2021. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-man-arrested-in-deadly-1974-stabbing-in-national-city?fbclid=IwAR2NL-qLaC1HQbhB4mOxEouZhOpW_c20NDHP-aoc9LcfajxW8cjgkz6UIMY.
Ravikumar, Vandana. “California Woman Working Alone at 7-Eleven was Killed in 1974. Now, There’s an Arrest. Sacramento Bee, September 16, 2021. https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article254303578.html.