Police identify suspect in 24-year-old south Sacramento homicide cold case

The Sacramento Police Department identified a suspect Friday in a south Sacramento homicide cold case that’s more than 20 years old.

Irvin Parnell, 58, who was already in custody at the Sacramento County jail, was accused of bludgeoning a woman to death in 1996.

In a news release, the Sacramento Police Department said the killing took place at a hotel on Massie Court just before midnight on Oct. 10, 1996.

Linda Marie Garcia, 33, was found dead in her room, suffering from cranial blunt force trauma wounds.

The Sacramento Bee reported at the time that Garcia had previously lived in Auburn. She was found by a cleaning woman at the Gold Rush Inn at 18 Massie Court, which is now an America’s Best Value Inn.

Police said the case went cold, but new information surfaced that allowed detectives to link Parnell to the homicide.

“While we cannot replace the loss that Linda Garcia’s family has felt for almost 24 years, we hope that an arrest in this case can finally bring them some closure,” Sgt. Brian Kinney said in a prepared statement.

Sacramento Police Department spokesman Karl Chan couldn’t say what exactly led officers to suspect Parnell, as the investigation is still ongoing, but he said DNA evidence was not a factor.

“it’s just good old fashioned police work,” Chan said.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the cold case to call (916) 264-5471.