ALEXANDRIA, La. -- A Louisiana state trooper remains a suspect in the killing of a 44-year-old Oregon woman, but a DNA test has shown he is not the south Louisiana serial killer.
Trooper Jason Alston, 32, is one of about 50 suspects in the stabbing death of Teresa Gilcrease,
said Capt. Ronnie Wagner of the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office. Gilcrease was originally of Baker City, Ore. Alston came under investigation after a caller identified him as connected to the murder.
However, Alston's DNA showed he is not the serial killer who has murdered five young women in south Louisiana since September 2001, said Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa of the task force investigating the killings. DNA tests have connected the five killings to one person.
Detectives are waiting to see if Alston's DNA can be linked to Gilcrease's killing.
Sgt. Michelle Arbour, a state police spokeswoman, said Alston was placed on paid leave March 27.
Any state police employee investigated in a criminal matter is immediately put on leave, she said.
Gilcrease's body was found June 10 on a remote road near the Alexandria campus of Louisiana State University.
