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You are here: Home / Forensics / Arrest in 1981 murder of Joseph Azevedo

Arrest in 1981 murder of Joseph Azevedo

January 10, 2011 By Alice

joseph azevedoChristopher David Winter was arrested for the 1981 murder of Joseph Azevedo (Nov 14, 1930 – May 2, 1981) from Lancaster, CA. Detectives believe that Winter was burglarizing Azevedo‘s mobile home and was startled by Joseph, an aircraft mechanic. Winter is described as a truck driver living in Indiana.

Armando Azevedo was 17 when he and his 9-year-old brother discovered their father’s body lying in a pool of blood. The case went cold for decades and was reopened in 2006 after advances in fingerprint and DNA analysis. Armando said he plans to attend the trial. “I guess I just need to know that it’s done and over,” he said.

“Forensic evidence was gathered after Joseph’s death, but no suspects were identified. In 2006, the files was reopened and new DNA evidence led investigators to Winter. Insufficient evidence forced them to drop the case.

Four years later, Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives reexamined case statements and used modern forensic analysis to again identify Winter as the suspect. They presented their evidence to the L.A. County district attorney’s office, which last November filed charges of burglary and murder with special circumstances.

Joseph Azevedo, courtesy LASD
Joseph Azevedo, courtesy LASD

After issuing an arrest warrant, detectives learned that Winter was a long-haul truck driver living in Indiana and notified the FBI. Assisted by local police, FBI agents arrested the suspect without incident Nov. 6, 2010.”

Winter could face the death penalty.

UPDATE: Winter plead not guilty to murder and burglary charges however, DNA links him to the crime scene. Winter remains in jail without bail. He is expected back in court on April 21, 2011. Then it will be decided if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

UPDATE: Winter struck a deal with the Los Angeles County District’s Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his guilty plea, he got less than six years in state prison when he was sentenced on June 7, 2011.

Rest in peace, Joseph Azevedo.

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Filed Under: Forensics, Solved Tagged With: California, DNA, Finger Printing, Forensics, Gun Fire, Joseph Azevedo

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Author Notes

I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. They need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to professionals.

Posts include homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are sorted by the victim’s last name. They are free to the public.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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