Los Angeles Man Charged in 1996 Cold Case Stabbing Murder

DNA evidence links Brian Walton, 63, to the sexual assault and killing of 23-year-old Claudia Guevara nearly 30 years ago.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A Los Angeles man named Brian Walton, 63, has been charged with the murder of Claudia Guevara, a 23-year-old woman who was found dead in a drainage ditch in Azusa, California in 1996. DNA evidence has implicated Walton in Guevara's sexual assault and stabbing death, which had gone unsolved for nearly three decades.

Why it matters

The arrest and charging of Walton in this decades-old cold case provides some closure for Guevara's family, who have waited agonizingly long for justice. It also highlights the importance of advancements in DNA technology in helping to solve previously unsolvable crimes.

The details

Guevara went missing on February 20, 1996 after being dropped off at a bus stop in El Monte by two people she worked with. Her nude body was found the next day in a drainage ditch in Azusa, about 10 miles from the bus stop. Authorities determined she had been sexually assaulted and stabbed in the neck. The case went cold for nearly 30 years until DNA evidence recently tied Walton to the crime, even though he did not know Guevara.

  • Guevara went missing on February 20, 1996.
  • Guevara's body was found the next day on February 21, 1996.
  • Walton was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on February 5, 2026.
  • Walton is due to appear in court for an arraignment on February 9, 2026.
  • Walton is due back in court on March 18, 2026.

The players

Brian Walton

A 63-year-old Los Angeles man who has been charged with the murder of Claudia Guevara in 1996.

Claudia Guevara

A 23-year-old woman who was found dead in a drainage ditch in Azusa, California in 1996 after being sexually assaulted and stabbed.

Nathan J. Hochman

The Los Angeles County District Attorney who announced the charges against Walton.

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What they’re saying

“The victim's family has waited for an agonizing 30 years to get that call to let them know their loved one's killer had been found and charged.”

— Nathan J. Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney (usmagazine.com)

What’s next

A decision on whether to seek the death penalty against Walton will be made at a later date.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of advancements in DNA technology in helping to solve cold cases, even decades after a crime was committed. It also underscores the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement and prosecutors, who never gave up on finding Claudia Guevara's killer.