Navy veteran’s 1987 murder solved after suspect who gave DNA sample dies by suicide

September 16, 2026 / 8:53 AM EDT / CBS News

A U.S. Navy veteran's murder has been solved nearly four decades after his body was discovered in a cemetery in Arizona, authorities said. The man identified as the murder suspect had provided a DNA sample to investigators just days before dying by suicide in June, according to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Orison James "Jim" Chafin was found dead in Glendale, a city outside of Phoenix, on Aug. 8, 1987. Chafin, 54, had served in the Navy during the Korean War and lived alone in a trailer park in the area. A group driving through the cemetery saw his body on the ground that day. His throat was cut, and he was only wearing socks.

The witnesses said they'd spotted a sedan stopped in one part of the cemetery with its headlights on, and it drove away when they approached it. Later, detectives produced three male DNA profiles from evidence collected at the scene, including some pulled from beer bottles and cigarette butts, but none were ever matched to anyone until recently.

Chafin's cold case was reopened in 2025. At that point, the investigation led to Gary Wayne Billups, the…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/