Police: DNA break in St. Guillen murder

(New York-WABC, March 12, 2006) - There is breaking news in the investigation into the murder of Imette Saint Guillen. For the first time, police are officially calling bar bouncer Darryl Littlejohn the prime suspect in her brutal killing.

Police are saying they've matched blood from the scene to Littlejohn.

It's a story Eyewitness News broke first Sunday afternoon. Our Jeff Rossen is in Soho, reporting from near the bar where Saint Guillen was last seen alive.

Clearly this is a major break in the case. Police say this new DNA match along with circumstantial and forensic evidence they've gathered both at the scene and at the suspect's house in South Jamaica, Queens should be enough for a murder indictment.

Raymond Kelly, NYC Police Commissioner: "Darryl Littlejohn's blood was found on plastic ties that were used to bind Imette's hands behind her back and a DNA match to Littlejohn was made."

Police got the test results Saturday, after analyzing blood from the scene. It is the first piece of hard evidence that links bar bouncer Darryl Littlejohn to the crime, the murder of grad student Imette Saint Guillen.

Authorities say phone records place Littlejohn near the spot where here body was dumped. Sources tell ABC News that investigators have linked hair on the blanket that was used to wrap her body to Littlejohn's cat.

Two witnesses claim they saw Littlejohn and the victim leave "The Falls" bar together. But the DNA evidence is seen as a slam dunk.

Kelly: "When you talk about DNA, we're talking about the certainty of one in a trillion. So it is a ... very important piece of evidence for us."

But even with the new evidence, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly would not call Littlejohn the killer, only confirming what Eyewitness News has been reporting for days: That Littlejohn is the prime suspect.

As of 6:00 p.m. Sunday he still had not been arrested or charged in the murder. Instead, he is in custody on a parole violation.

Police have elected to wait for a grand jury indictment to charge him, mainly sources say to keep Darryl Littlejohn's attorney in the dark as long as possible.

Kelly: "This investigation is going forward and there are a lot of different aspects to the investigation that as of yet certainly have not reached finality. There's a lot more work to be done.

In fact, the NYPD confirmed today that they will also present evidence to the grand jury that connects Littlejohn to other crimes in the area. Sources tell Eyewitness News that includes at least one prior sex assault.

And suddenly, in a murder that has gripped the city for more than two weeks, a bombshell break in the investigation: The DNA match police had hoped for.

As for Littlejohn's neighbors in South Jamaica, Queens some are expressing shock tonight but most don't want to talk about it. Eyewitness News' Jeff Pegues reports.

At 121st Avenue in front of Littlejohn's home, it was almost eerily quiet Sunday night. Police were there standing guard, keeping the public and the media away from the home. They were not, however, going in and out of the home as they had for several days over the past week.

Man: "I don't know what to say, because I'd see him on the block. He lived over here. He'd say "bye" and that's it."

For days, police have been searching Littlejohn's home and a minivan in search of evidence. As police began building a case against the 41-year-old bar bouncer, residents witnessed firsthand how it all began to developed.

One woman we talked with is taking a wait and see attitude.

Woman: "It's sad, for someone's life to be cut short like that. But I don't want to comment until I'm sure. I don't judge anyone."

Darryl Littlejohn is a person many have seen around the neighborhood here. Some in the past several days have characterized him despite an extensive rap sheet as someone who is nice, quiet and helpful. Some here believe he is not responsible for the death of Imette Saint Guillen.