It’s been nearly 11-years since preschool teacher Kyla Annan was found dead in her home in Reno. Francisco Merino-Ojeda has been on open murder, sexual assault and burglary in the first degree, followed a three-month investigation.
Twenty-one at the time of the murder, he was arrested in Santa Ana, California after a DNA sample obtained from local police matched DNA found at Kyla home. Earlier this year, someone reached out through Secret Witness, claiming to have information on a possible suspect.
Since January, police have worked with the FBI and detectives in Southern California to collected Merino-Ojeda’s DNA. It matched the samples collected from the autopsy and the clothing and he was arrested on March 11.
After writing an article updating the case on February 6, 2015, I was contacted by Kyla’s father, Steve. He told me that some one had been arrest after confessing to the crime, but didn’t give me any further details. I spoke to the RPD, who refused to confirm Steve’s claim and I even forwarded a message to Secret Witness, encouraging them to update their website about Kyla, if indeed an arrest had been made.
Now, I understand.
It was Thursday, April 2 that I heard an arrest had been made in a 10-year-old cold case and that the man was sitting in the Washoe County Jail. I made the connection at that time, because as far as I know there was only one decade old unsolved murder in the area.
It was September 13, 2004, when Kyla reported to police that an intruder broke into her home while she and her boyfriend slept. The burglar and taken off his clothing, placed his hand over the mouth of Annan’s boyfriend and fled after the boyfriend chased him.
Ten-days later, Kyla was found dead in her home by her boyfriend. She was last seen three days prior working in her garden.
During the course of the investigation over 150 DNA samples were voluntarily collected from men in the area and from known associates of Kyla’s. None of the samples matched the FBI’s records.
I’m glad they caught the bastard responsible and I pray Kyla’s parents and other family members can now move on with their lives.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
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