DNA helps police re-arrest Tower District murder suspect

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The sole suspect in a Central Fresno murder is locked up, again. The re-arrest comes less than two days after that same man was released from jail for the same crime.

Detectives now have DNA results from blood found at the murder scene in October that matches the suspect, who is once again being held at the Fresno County Jail.

The DNA results did not arrive in time for charges to be filed earlier this week. The victim's family is relieved after feeling victimized all over again.

Investigators hope Monday afternoon was the last time Davin Rodriguez will get out of jail, after they say he stabbed Jerald Riley to death in on October 5th.

"That was our first time putting a face to the person that had done this," Christine Riley, Jerald's sister, said. "It was so much emotion going through us to see the guy that changed our life forever leaving, being released. It's like, 'oh my god, is he going to be able to be accountable for what he's done to our family.'"
Christine Riley said watching Rodriguez walk out of jail caused her family a lot of new grief. But now that he's locked up again they're extremely grateful.

Christine talked with Action News at the scene of her brother's murder while clutching an urn with his ashes. "It won't bring back my little brother," she said, referring to the arrest. "It's bitter sweet."

Fresno police say a team of detectives worked tirelessly, canvasing the Tower District since the murder. The motive behind the killing is still unclear. Investigators say Riley and Rodriguez did not know each other. And Rodriguez has no criminal past as an adult.

"It keeps me up at night, the anguish of how it went," Riley said. "To be murdered like that. I want to know why. I want to ask him why."
So do police. So far what they say happened was a fight between Riley and Rodriguez. The fight left Riley dead and Rodriguez injured as he ran from the scene.

Christine says Jerald died defending himself. "He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't the type to come out and pick with people," she said. "He didn't back down either. He stood his ground. And that's what helped get the guy who did what happened to him, because of the DNA."

Police credit an anonymous tip for pointing them to Rodriguez in the first place. Jail records show he is being held tonight without bail.