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37-Year-Old Murder Confession Shocks Police
1 Jun
Summary
- Man confessed to a 1989 murder after 37 years of guilt.
- Confession occurred in August 2024, leading to arrest in June 2026.
- DNA evidence matched suspect's DNA to victim's clothing.
In a remarkable turn of events, a Metro Atlanta man has confessed to a murder committed 37 years ago, leading to the reopening of a cold case. Joseph Quiros-Soto voluntarily approached the Locust Grove Police Department in August 2024, expressing a need to confess to a crime from August 1989 in Bayonne, New Jersey.
Soto revealed that he and an accomplice were paid to commit the murder. His conscience, spurred by conversations with his pastor, compelled him to come forward. Detectives from New Jersey interviewed Soto and collected his DNA, which later matched samples found on the victim's sweatpants. This crucial evidence came back as a match in the months following his confession.
After a 20-month period following his initial confession, during which he was allowed to return home, Soto was finally arrested in Griffin in June 2026. Authorities are now working to locate the accomplice mentioned in Soto's statement, ensuring that justice is served for the decades-old crime, regardless of the suspect's newfound faith.
