JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — New York detectives arrested a suspect connected to a 88-year-old woman’s murder more than 20 years ago. They said they matched DNA evidence from the suspect’s home in Georgia to the original crime scene.
Raul Ayala, 51, is charged in murder of Edna Schubert, 88, at her home on Long Island. Suffolk County police said neighbors found Schubert, who was a widow and lived alone, beaten to death on Dec. 12, 2003.
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The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Ayala was 29 and lived less than 200 yards from Schubert’s home at the time.
“Let this case serve as evidence that no matter how much time passes, we will never stop working for victims,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
HOW THE CASE WAS CRACKED
Investigators only had a blurry photo of a fingerprint found on a window blind and door and blood evidence collected at the home. The technology wasn’t available to identify her killer and the case went cold.
A Suffolk County detective reopened the case in 2023. The department used newer technology to run the blurry fingerprint photo through a database, which they connected to Ayala.
Police discovered that Ayala moved to Talmo, Georgia and traveled to Jackson County to start surveillance on Ayala in Aug. 2024. They collected multiple lottery scratch-off cards and plastic bottles that they saw Ayala throw out at the home.
Detectives had evidence collected from his home tested back in New York. Officials said that a DNA from a Gatorade bottle matched DNA found on Schubert’s clothing.
Police arrested Ayala on Jan. 16 and charged him with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SUSPECT
Ayala had his first appearance in New York on Friday and pleaded not guilty.
If he is convicted, he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court date is scheduled for March 5.
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