“The arrest of a suspect in this rape and murder committed 51 years ago is a testament to the incredible work performed by California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services criminalists. Always advancing in technology and never wavering in their commitment to criminal justice, these public safety professionals are helping to solve cold cases that remained a mystery for decades, bringing closure to families and closure to unsolved cases.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SAN FRANCISCO — On August 14, 2024, Michael Eugene Mullen, 75, was arrested for the 1973 rape and murder of a young woman who lived in San Rafael with her husband and two-year-old daughter. The arrest followed a lead generated from the California Department of Justice’s Familial Search Program.
“I am incredibly proud of the endless hours of behind the scenes work our Bureau of Forensic Services put into this case,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “We are hopeful that this arrest will bring justice and closure to this devastating case. Thank you to our partners at Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. This arrest proves that when we work together, we get results.”
In 2021, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office sought assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Familial Search Program to generate new leads in the cold case of Nina Fischer. Nina had been sexually assaulted and murdered in her San Rafael home in November 1973, while her husband was at work. The Familial Search Program worked for several months and provided a lead. This led to a three-year investigation and identified Michael Eugene Mullen from Idaho as the suspect. On August 14, 2024, Mullen was arrested by Marin County investigators, along with the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police. He was taken to Lemhi County Jail and is now awaiting extradition to California for prosecution that will be handled by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.
DOJ’s Familial Search Program compares DNA from unsolved serious crimes against California’s Convicted Offender DNA Database to identify potential relatives of perpetrators. If a potential relative is identified, and if additional investigation by DOJ’s Bureau of Investigation supports the genetic information, an investigative lead is provided to law enforcement. DOJ’s Familial Search Program has provided investigate leads in 30 different cases since the genesis of the program in 2008. The program uses technology and comparison data that is distinct from Forensic Investigated Genetic Genealogy.
