A California prosecutor said John Kevin Woodward, 58, the CEO of online training company ReadyTech, was arrested and charged with murder in the 1992 killing of Laurie Houts, his roommate’s girlfriend at the time of the killing.
Investigators linked Woodward to Houts’ death using new developments in forensic science.
Laurie Holt was a 25-year-old software engineer. She was strangled by a rope inside her car back in 1992. Her footprints were found inside her windshield, indicating that a struggle to survive had taken place.
John Woodward was charged with the crime at the time, but the case was dismissed twice because of insufficient evidence to tie him to the crime scene.
After the failed prosecutions, Woodward moved to the Netherlands.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen of Santa Clara County told Houts’ family and friends that he would find out the truth and seek justice.
“The biggest hurdle was finding new evidence,” Mountain View police Sgt. David Fisher told ABC News. “These advancements have allowed the district attorney to file charges here.”
“I want Ms. Houts‘ family and friends to know that we never gave up on her. Neither time nor distance will stop us from finding the truth and seeking justice,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen.
Woodward was arrested at JFK in New York this past weekend and will be extradited to California, where he will face trial. If convicted, he is facing life in prison.
For more on this story, please consider these sources:
- Tech company CEO arrested and charged with murder in 1992 killing of California woman, DA says – WDSU New Orleans
- Tech company CEO arrested and charged with murder in 1992 killing of California woman, DA says – CNN
- California tech company CEO arrested on murder charges for 1992 strangulation death of woman – Fox News
- In 1992, Laurie Houts was found strangled in her car. Her boyfriend’s roommate — now a tech CEO — was just arrested for her murder. – CBS News