Neighbors say Stanford cold case suspect should have turned himself in
PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) -- The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office announced it solved a 43-year-old cold case surrounding the brutal murder of Arlis Perry, only 19 years old at the time.
The investigation led deputies to an apartment belonging to Steve Crawford, the former Stanford security guard who claimed to have found Perry's dead body back in October 1974.
Sheriff Laurie Smith told ABC7 News that Crawford had remained a suspect in the case. Adding her department questioned him on multiple occasions, the last interrogation happened only recently.
"Nothing ever cleared him," Smith said. "There was just not enough evidence to charge him with a crime."
However, technological improvements linked DNA evidence found on Perry's clothes to Crawford.
Thursday morning, sheriff's deputies attempted to serve 72-year-old Crawford with a warrant to collect more evidence. The man shot himself before making direct contact with deputies.
"It comes with great honor to announce that we solved the 43-year-old cold case," Smith said.
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Ramon Ramirez, a neighbor who heard the morning commotion told ABC7, "Before the gunshot went off, we started seeing we were getting surrounded by the cops and we started seeing the helicopter."
He remained critical of Crawford's actions, both from October 1974 and from the man taking his own life in a complex where Ramirez and his kids live.
"He should've just turned himself in instead of having other people in danger, knowing that he has done what he has done," Ramirez said.
While the sheriff's office said the 43-year-old cold case has come to a close, the investigation into Crawford and any possible connection he might have to other murders is just beginning.
Get the latest on cold cases in the Bay Area and across the country here.
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