Northern California prosecutors charge Colorado inmate with murder of bar owner in 1974
By APWednesday, July 21, 2010
Calif prosecutors charge Colo inmate in ‘74 murder
NAPA, Calif. — Prosecutors in California have charged a Colorado inmate with murdering a bar owner nearly four decades ago.
Investigators say 73-year-old Roy Melanson fatally stabbed a Napa woman in July 1974, just two months before murdering another woman in Colorado. Melanson is serving a life sentence in the Colorado killing.
No arrests were made in the death of Anita Andrews, whose body was found in the stock room of Fagiani’s Cocktail Lounge. Witnesses had said a man was in the bar with Andrews as she cleaned up that night.
Last year, investigators matched Melanson’s DNA to evidence from the scene. Court documents say a witness identified him in a photo lineup.
Napa County prosecutors are working to extradite him from Colorado for trial.
Information from: The Napa Valley Register, www.napavalleyregister.com
