Police in Northern California recently made a breakthrough in a 31-year-old cold case. They were able to solve the case after DNA found under the fingernails of the murder victim matched the profile of a criminal in the Combined DNA Index System database. The victim, Vicki Johnson, was 34 years old at the time of her death on January 3, 1991. Her body was discovered near a playground in Seaside's Sabado Park.
According to Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges, she had been suffocated with sand, bitten all over her body, strangled to death, and set on fire. The brutal nature of Johnson's murder shocked the community, especially because she had no known association with gangs. Chief Borges expressed his astonishment, saying, "She wasn't associated with gangs and to be killed the way that she was." The mother of three had put up a fierce fight, breaking most of her fingernails in the process. When the Monterey County District Attorney's office launched a cold case task force, Johnson's case was one of many that were reopened.
Authorities collected skin from under her fingernails and submitted it for DNA testing. However, due to backlogs and a lack of staffing, it took two years for a match to be found. The DNA evidence was linked to Frank Lewis McClure, a former convict who resided in Seaside.
McClure, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 77, had a history of violent crimes including assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence against women. Chief Borges noted that although McClure had been in prison before, there was no indication that he would be involved in the murder. Vicki Johnson had struggled with a crack addiction in the final years of her life.
Chief Borges raised questions about whether her case had not been thoroughly investigated due to her lifestyle and drug involvement. He considered it a failure on the part of law enforcement. With McClure identified as Johnson's killer, attention has turned to the other unsolved murders in Seaside. Currently, there are 32 cases waiting for resolution.
In recent years, three additional killers have been identified thanks to a renewed focus on cold cases. Since assuming the role of Seaside's police chief in August of last year, Chief Borges has implemented a new policy requiring investigation supervisors in the cold case unit to submit audits of their remaining cases.
This allows officers to reexamine old evidence and interviews. Chief Borges believes that solving murders is crucial not only for justice but also for preventing future crimes by sending a message to potential offenders. He emphasized the importance of not forgetting about cases and maintaining motivation to bring justice to victims and their families.
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