Home / Crime and Justice / DNA Breakthrough Solves 20-Year-Old Saginaw Murder
DNA Breakthrough Solves 20-Year-Old Saginaw Murder
15 Jun
Summary
- A 48-year-old man was sentenced for a 2003 murder after 20 years.
- DNA technology and a university cold case program aided the investigation.
- The victim was found in the Flint River in 2003 and died of strangulation.
Jason Cabello, 48, has been sentenced to 23 to 45 years in prison for the 2003 murder and sexual assault of Jeanette Wilton. The sentencing occurred on June 15, 2026, in Saginaw County. This conviction marks a significant breakthrough, solving a case that had remained cold for over two decades.
Wilton's body was found in the Flint River on February 22, 2003. An autopsy revealed she died from strangulation and multiple stab wounds. The investigation gained new momentum in 2021 when the Michigan State Police re-examined the case. Assisted by Western Michigan University's cold case program, reanalyzed evidence was submitted for forensic-grade genome sequencing.
This advanced DNA analysis developed a profile for an unknown suspect, ultimately leading investigators to Cabello. WMU students played a crucial role by helping digitize case files and create indexes of persons of interest. Detectives then confirmed Cabello's DNA matched samples collected in 2003. He was charged in December 2024 and pleaded no contest in April 2026.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and WMU. The breakthrough offers long-awaited answers and justice for Wilton's family and friends, demonstrating that advancements in forensic science can bring accountability even after many years. Cabello will also be subject to lifetime sex offender registration upon release.
