KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. -- The Indiana State Police announced a 71-year-old Syracuse man was arrested Wednesday for a 1975 murder in San Diego.

ISP investigators with the Cold Case Unit were contacted in 2024 by San Diego Cold Case detectives to assist with the 1975 murder of 34-year-old Edmund LaFave.

Over a year's time, investigators say they identified the suspect as Johnnie Ray Salisbury.

An arrest warrant was then served to Salisbury on Wednesday by ISP, the San Diego Police Department, and the Syracuse Police Department.

Salisbury was taken to the Kosciusko County Jail where he awaits extradition to California.

Cold Case Background

The SDPD states LaFave was found in his home on Feb. 25, 1975, in the 2900 block of Suncrest Drive.

Police say he was found on his bedroom floor in a pool of blood.

Investigators determined he'd been stabbed multiple times and severely beaten.

Authorities noted despite an exhaustive investigation at the time, the case went cold.

The recent arrest of Salisbury is attributed to the recent use of forensic investigative genetic genealogy technology and other forensic evidence to identify.