Buffalo, NY- Law enforcement officials in Buffalo used DNA and forensic evidence to link 63-year-old John M. Sauberan of Buffalo to the murder of 19-year-old Linda Tschari on February 8, 1978. Sauberan was found guilty after a five-day trial and a 3-hour deliberation by jurors in the case.
According to a police report at the time of the murder, Sauberan entered the girl’s home, which was located in the rear of a property located on Pooley place in Buffalo. After entering the home, he stabbed the girl multiple times, killing her.
The victim’s brother, who lived in the front house of the West Side property, went to check on his sister later that day. The victim was found deceased in the living room.
Police investigators and prosecutors were able to link Sauberan to the murder using DNA evidence after his DNA profile was uploaded to a National Database following a criminal conviction in another state, according to Erie County District Attorney John Flynn.
“The family of Linda Tschari has waited more than 44 years for her murder to be solved. I hope that they feel justice has been served by this defendant being found guilty today,” said Erie County DA John J. Flynn.