An Indiana inmate is facing charges of the rape and murder of a 19-year-old mother over a decade ago after his DNA was linked to the case.
Anthony Johnson, 44, will be extradited to Arkansas where he is expected to be charged with capital murder, rape and kidnapping in Tawana Blunt’s death.
The young mother had been sexually assaulted, tortured and strangled with a ligature, police said.
Blunt had been living at her Forrest City apartment for about two weeks in September 2000 when her body was found.
Her two-year-old daughter was staying with relatives the night of the killing, family members said.
The young mother finished work at a restaurant about 1:30am on September 15 and went out with friend until about 3am.
She headed back to her apartment, and shortly before 10pm her daughter’s grandmother found her body.
Authorities in the small Arkansas city tried to solve the case but it went cold.
Nearly 12 years later, police said they have found her killer thanks to a DNA database.
