DNA evidence from cold case connects convicted killer to second victim

MORGAN CITY, La. (WAFB) - A man behind bars for killing a woman nearly 26 years ago is facing new charges after DNA evidence allegedly connected him to a homicide cold case from that same year.

According to the Morgan City Police Department, two women, identified as Amber Lynn Jenkins Garcia and Jennifer Vedol, were found dead as a result of a homicide in Morgan City in 1998. Garcia was found dead near a wooded area behind Youngs Park on Oct. 8, 1998. Vedol was found dead near Duke Street on Dec. 25, 1998.

John Willis Pittman Jr., then 18, was arrested for Vedol's death. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 40 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Garcia's death, however, became a cold case.

According to police, investigators looked throughout the years to see if new leads could be developed regarding Garcia's death.

Police said detectives resubmitted evidence collected from the scene of Garcia's death at the beginning of 2024, and that DNA evidence linked Pittman to her death.

Officials issued an arrest warrant for Pittman, who is still incarcerated at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center for Vedol's death, on a second-degree murder charge for Garcia's death 26 years ago.

According to police, Pittman remains incarcerated. He will be booked on the new charge and will await court proceedings in the 16th Judicial Court.

The update to this investigation was announced during a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.