by San Diego, CA – Authorities have arrested a 71-year-old man in connection with a homicide that occurred more than 50 years ago in San Diego. Johnnie Salisbury of Syracuse, Indiana, was taken into custody this week following advances in forensic technology that linked him to the crime.
The case involves the killing of Edmund LaFave, who was 34 years old at the time of his death on Feb. 25, 1975. LaFave was found on the bedroom floor of his Suncrest Drive home near North Park, severely beaten and stabbed multiple times. Despite a thorough investigation at the time, the case eventually went cold.
Incident Overview
San Diego police said that cold case investigators have reviewed the case over the years, but no significant leads were found until recently. Modern forensic technology was able to identify Salisbury as a suspect.
“Various cold case investigators have reviewed the case over the years, but nothing came of it — until recently, when forensic technology was used to identify Salisbury,” the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.
Timeline of Events
- Feb. 25, 1975: Edmund LaFave is found dead in his home, severely beaten and stabbed.
- 1975–2025: Investigators pursue leads over the years, but the case goes cold.
- Recent weeks: Forensic review identifies Johnnie Salisbury as a suspect.
- 2026: Salisbury is arrested in Syracuse, Indiana, and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail in Warsaw.
Salisbury is currently awaiting an extradition hearing to return to San Diego to face charges.
Police Statement and Public Appeal
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the case to contact the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Conclusion
Johnnie Salisbury, 71, has been arrested in Indiana for the 1975 homicide of Edmund LaFave in San Diego, more than five decades after the crime occurred. Advances in forensic technology allowed investigators to identify Salisbury, bringing a new chapter to a long-cold case.
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