Ventura Cold Case Homicide Solved

Tuesday May 07, 2024

(Photos courtesy of VPD)

     On July 16, 1991, the body of 42-year-old Danielle Clause of Ventura was found on the hillside at the top of Tioga Drive.

     She had been sexually assaulted and killed by multiple blunt force injuries to her head.

     Ventura police detectives conducted an extensive investigation into her death, including gathering extensive crime scene evidence, but were unable to identify her killer.

     The case was suspended and considered cold.

     But in 2021, Ventura police detectives and forensic specialists reopened the case.

     Armed with advances in DNA testing, "genetic genealogy" and a process known as "phenotyping" they were able to track the DNA found at the crime scene to a family on the other side of the country.

     With their cooperation and additional investigation it was determined that her killer was Larry Devon Welch who died in 1999.

     Police say at the time of her murder, there was no known connection between Welch and Clause but they confirmed that Welch had been in Ventura at the time of the crime.

     Marcie Forte says, "my sister was so much more than a victim of a brutal murder.  She was an artist, a daughter, a sister, a mother, and a wife. She was a good person with a mighty soul and she was taken way too young."

     Forte was grateful and praised Ventura Police and everyone associated with solving the cold case and said they did a phenomenal job.

     Ventura Police have released a YouTube video detailing the case and its resolution and there is a link below to that video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxkbTFnd1-Y