Tennessee Man Charged in 1992 Slayings of Woman, Daughter, 4

Victor Lofton, 57, from Humboldt, Tennessee, has been charged with the 1992 murders of Felicia Howard, 21, and her 4-year-old daughter, DenNisha Howard, in Gary, Indiana. The charges were filed in Lake County Superior Court following a renewed investigation by the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT), which began in February 2019. Lofton was apprehended in Jackson, Tennessee, and awaits extradition to Indiana. Despite Lofton’s denial of involvement, the case was advanced using DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. Read Full Definition technology and witness interviews.

Key Details:

• Charges: Two counts of murder
• Victims: Felicia Howard, 21, and DenNisha Howard, 4
• Arrest Location: Jackson, Tennessee
• Investigation Reopened: February 2019
• Investigation Lead: FBI’s GRIT

Context and Impact

The brutal 1992 murders of Felicia and DenNisha Howard in Gary, Indiana, left the community in shock. Felicia was found nude, reaching for her daughter, who had been shot in the head.

The investigation into the unsolved 1992 murders was revitalized through the combined efforts of local and federal law enforcement. Utilizing modern DNA technology, investigators were able to piece together evidenceEvidence is any form of proof, such as objects, materials, or scientific findings, presented to establish or disprove a fact in a legal proceeding. It is used to reconstruct events and link or exclude individuals Read Full Definition linking Lofton to the crime scene, despite his claims of not being in Indiana at the time. The GRIT task force’s persistence highlights the advancements in forensic methods and the commitment to seeking justice for long-standing cold cases.

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Source: DNA Links Man to 1992 Killings of Indiana Woman, Girl, 4