Sandra Coke Update: Randy Alana, convicted felon, charged in the death of federal investigator
(CBS/AP) OAKLAND, Calif. - Prosecutors have charged a convicted felon with murder in the death of Northern California federal criminal investigator Sandra Coke, who police say briefly dated the killer two decades ago.
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed the charges against 56-year-old Randy Alana on Friday. Alana is accused of killing Coke and stealing her car and account information in August.
Police say Alana and Coke were seen together on Aug. 4, the day she went missing. Her body was found days later.
Police have said the 50-year-old Coke and Alana dated briefly about 20 years ago.
Coke worked as a capital case investigator for the federal public defender's office in Sacramento.
.According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Alana has denied harming Coke, and said the two planned to marry. He was suspected of burglarizing her home and stealing her dog before the killing.
Alana's criminal record includes convictions for robbery, rape and involuntary manslaughter. He was in prison from 1997 to 2012, according to the paper.