SANTA FE – Santa Fe police say genetic analysis of DNA evidence from the 2018 fatal shooting of a man in his home’s backyard helped crack the case, leading to an arrest.
Police said they arrested Joseph Jones, 26, in the killing of 52-year-old Robert Romero, who was believed to have gotten into an altercation with an assailant who fled after the shooting.
Jones was arrested Thursday and remained jailed Friday on suspicion of murder, tampering with evidence and attempted burglary.
Police initially had no suspect or motive, but Deputy Chief Paul Joye said investigators then submitted the DNA sample to a lab that created a genetic genealogy analysis that led to three possible matches.
Joye said investigators then investigated and identified Jones as a suspect.
Online court records didn’t list a defense attorney for Jones who could comment on his behalf on the allegations.
