New DNA Evidence Solved 36-Year-Old La Mesa Cold-Case Murder

Police closed the case in 1984 and it went unsolved until 2017, when the department reopened the case and conducted a full review of the evidence,

December 16, 2019

New DNA evidence helped La Mesa police solved a nearly 36-year-old cold-case murder, officials announced Monday.

La Mesa police said William Mambro was stabbed to death during a residential burglary on Dec. 28, 1983. Officers found the 43-year-old man's body in his bedroom.

Police closed the case in 1984 and it went unsolved until 2017, when the department reopened the case and conducted a full review of the evidence, according to La Mesa police Lt. Gregory Runge.

Runge said in March 2019, police found new DNA evidence that led to the arrest of James Boget, 64, in San Antonio in November. Neither police nor the District Attorney's office released any details about the DNA evidence, or what led them to reopen the case in 2017, because of an impending criminal trial and investigation against Boget.

Boget was extradited to San Diego and charged with one count of murder on Dec. 12 and is held on $2 million bail. He faces 25-years-to-life in prison.

La Mesa police are asking anyone with any information about the case to contact them at (619) 667-7539 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS. Tips may also be sent in anonymously at sdcrimestoppers.com.