The Champaign County Sheriff’s office has released new information in the investigation of Holly’s Cassano’s 2009 murder.
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office hired a private forensic laboratory to do testing and studies, beyond that done by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, on the DNA recovered at the crime scene. CCSP believes the DNA belongs to the suspect in the murder.
The Lab is Sorenson Forensics out of Salt Lake City Utah.
The results of the analysis and the study statistically suggest that the DNA is from a male probably with some Hispanic, Native American, Central American or South American heritage. (There is some genetic ancestral affinity that may possibly include the India subcontinent, Sub-Sahara Africa and East Asia.)
The likelihood of some Hispanic or similar genetic heritage is based upon statistical studies and is not a certainty. CCSO encourages anyone with information to contact the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, regardless of the possible heritage of the suspect.
Holly Cassano, 22, was found dead in her home at 298 DuPage in the Candlewood Estates mobile-home park northeast of Mahomet about 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009. She was last seen alive around 10:15 p.m. the night before at the Meijer store in Champaign, where she was a cashier.
Please call CCSO at 384-1213 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Crime Stoppers at 373-TIPS(8477) or email sheriff@co.champaign,il.us.
A substantial community reward in excess of $5,500 is now available for information that leads to solving this crime.
