New details were released by Reno Police this afternoon about the arrest of a man who allegedly killed a Reno woman in her home more than 10 years ago.
32-year-old Francisco Ojeda was booked on Wednesday and charged with open murder, sexual assault and burglary.
Kyla Annan was found by her boyfriend, strangled to death in her home on the 600 block of Quincy Street.
Evidence that came from a Secret Witness tip helped solve this case. Now the parents of Kyla are hoping to finally get life back to normal.
Cheryl Annan, the mother of Kyla said today at a press conference, “She was sunshine. Very intelligent. She had a mind of her own."
Kyla's father, Steve said, “I miss her sense of humor, a lot."
For Steve and Cheryl Annan, parents of 28 year old preschool teacher, Kyla, closure will never come after the loss of their only child.
"The idea that there's closure is not really accurate. Closure is when your child is brought back to you,” said Steve Annan.
On September 24, 2004, Francisco Ojeda allegedly killed Kyla in her home after he raped and strangled her to death. But before her body was discovered in her home that day, police say that 10 days prior, a man broke in.
"On September 13, 2004, an unknown male broke into Kyla's residence on the 600 block of Quincy Street, taking off articles of clothing, before waking up Kyla and her boyfriend, who chased the suspect out of the house,” said Lt. William Rulla with the Reno Police Department.
The suspect left behind two shirts that contained DNA evidence at the break-in. That DNA matched the same evidence collected at the murder scene. Investigators took over 150 samples from men, but after no samples matched, the case went cold.
"This investigation remained a cold case until January 2015 when a concerned citizen in the Secret Witness program came forward and reached out to our robbery homicide detective, claiming to have knowledge of a possible suspect who sexually assaulted and murdered Kyla."
After the tip came in to Secret Witness this year, Reno Police traveled to Southern California in March. They worked with law enforcement there to arrest Ojeda, who was believed to be the suspect for these crimes.
Investigators say Ojeda's DNA did match the evidence in this case. Police extradited him back to Washoe County this past Wednesday.
"There were no ties between the victim and the suspect prior to this criminal case," said Sgt. Ron Chalmers.
After years of the case going cold, Kyla's family gave up hope of finding the suspect. But now that Ojeda is in custody, they want justice.
"The appropriate actions for rape and murder is either a death penalty or life in prison, especially since he has had already enjoyed over 10 years of freedom since he committed the crime," said Victim Advocate, Brie Bertges.
“I want him to not see the light of day,” said Cheryl Annan. “A life for a life."
Kyla's parents, Steve and Cheryl plan to attend all of the court hearings in the future. The arraignment for Ojeda is this Saturday.
