DNA links suspect to Rowan homicide

SALISBURY, N.C. -- DNA evidence has helped the Rowan County Sheriff's Office make an arrest in connection with an unsolved homicide case, the sheriff announced Thursday.

Jimmie Musselwhite, 62, was found dead in November inside his home in the Bostian Heights community of Rowan County. Using DNA evidence gathered at the crime scene, authorities were able to track down a suspect, 23-year-old Bradley Blymer, in Kentucky.

Sheriff George Wilhelm said Blymer used to live in Rowan County and had been arrested before for assault and breaking and entering. It was because of those previous arrests that Blymer's DNA was on file with the SBI.

The sheriff’s office has not released how Musselwhite was killed, but Wilhelm did say it was a gruesome crime scene.