Convicted Rapist Charged In 1989 Murder Of Teen Thrown Off Bronx Roof
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Investigators used DNA samples collected decades ago to crack the case of a 17-year-old girl thrown to her death from a Bronx rooftop in 1989, prosecutors announced Friday.
New tests on bits of skin collected from beneath the fingernails of the victim, Noelis Bayanilla, led authorities back to an original suspect in the case, 46-year-old Scott Parilla.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said Parilla was questioned about Bayanilla's death after several witnesses confirmed he was the last person to be seen with the victim. He wasn't prosecuted due to insufficient evidence.
Police detectives gave the case a fresh look last summer.
Parilla previously served time for raping two teenage girls in 1993. Detectives matched samples from the Bayanilla case to Parilla's DNA, which was on file in the rape case.
Parilla was arrested in March and indicted this week. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges.
Clark said on Aug. 6, 1989, Parilla walked Bayanilla home, and the two went up to the roof of a five-story building on Morris Avenue in Fordham. Parilla allegedly pushed Bayanilla off the roof after the two got into an argument. She died from her injuries two days later.
"Noelis Bayanilla's future was brutally taken away from her," Clark said in a statement. "For 27 years, she has not been forgotten by her friends or family, or the justice system. Now her alleged killer will finally face his past, thanks to DNA evidence. "
Parilla is due back in court in July.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
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