Local Man Accused In Cold Case Headed Back To California
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man accused in connection with a deadly home invasion decades ago is headed back to California to face the charges.
Patrick Salmon, 53, is accused in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old during a home invasion in Santa Monica in 1980.
Salmon boarded a plane with police at Pittsburgh International Airport this evening to head back to California.
Two years ago, detectives reopened the case and traced Salmon to Pittsburgh, specifically Shaler Township.
Since coming to the Pittsburgh area, Salmon went to work and got married.
"He was on drugs and alcohol back then when he was 18-years-old, and it's been a completely different life what he's been leading the past 20 years," said Detective Larry Nicols, of the Santa Monica Police Department.
As he heads back to California to face prosecution, Nicols says Salmon's alibi is one he hasn't heard before.
"'I didn't do it, you've got the wrong guy;' it's, 'I don't remember,'" Detective Nicols said.
Salmon was arrested and placed in the Allegheny County Jail on May 17.
Detectives had to get a Governor's Warrant in California and Pennsylvania in order to extradite him back.
RELATED LINKS:
Suspect In 1980 Calif. Cold Case Arrested In Shaler Township (5/31/12)
Neighbors Stunned By Shaler Man's Arrest In Calif. Cold Case (6/1/12)
