Phoenix Police have made a breakthrough in a cold case that remained unsolved for nearly four decades. Alfred Earl Green, a 70-year-old man, was arrested on February 20, 2025, in connection with the 1986 murder of 18-year-old Lachelle “Shelly” Waite.
Waite was found dead in her Phoenix home on January 16, 1986, with investigators initially finding no signs of forced entry. They believed the victim knew the suspect, and personal items were taken from the home. Despite strong investigative leads, there was not enough evidence to make an arrest at the time, and the case eventually went cold.
However, in 2016, the Phoenix Police Cold Case Homicide Unit revisited the case, discovering a piece of evidence from the crime scene that had been overlooked. Advancements in DNA technology allowed the evidence to be processed and submitted for testing in 2022, which ultimately led to Green’s identification as the suspect.
Green, who was already serving a sentence for an unrelated offense, was charged with first-degree murder following the investigation. Detectives submitted the case to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Phoenix Police Detective Dominick Roestenberg emphasized the importance of the case, stating, “Being able to finally let the family know, and also let the community know that after 39 years, we’re still working on these cases, trying to get justice for them, for the victims and their families, speaks to what this unit is all about.”
The arrest marks a significant moment in the department’s ongoing commitment to solving cold cases and delivering justice for victims and their families.