DNA Links 7th Victim to Suspected Serial Killer Derrick Todd Lee

9 News has learned authorities have linked another murder of a south Louisiana woman to suspected serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. Authorities say DNA evidence links Lee to the 1998 disappearance and presumed death of a Zachary woman.

According to the arrest warrant, Lee is accused in the disappearance and presumed murder of 28-year-old Randi Mebruer, who vanished from her home in April 1998.

Zachary Police Chief Joey Watson said after retesting DNA evidence from the Mebruer case they have found physical evidence placing Lee at the crime scene. "After comparing a DNA profile of Derrick Todd Lee from May 2002 to the crime scene evidence of Randi Mebruer -- a warrant has been issued for Derrick Todd Lee for Mebruer's murder. Although her body has not been found, we believe she was probably murdered," said Watson.

Lee is also the prime suspect in the murder of another Zachary woman. Connie Warner, who lived around the block from Mebruer, was reported missing on August 22, 1992. She was found dead two weeks later off Pittsburg Avenue near Capitol Lake.

Chief Watson thanked the Attorney General's Office as well as other agencies for assisting in the Mebruer and Warner cases. Warner's case remains under investigation.

Lee has been linked through DNA to the murders of six women between September 2001 and March 2003 and a separate assault on a Breaux Bridge woman.

The connection of this 7th murder victim, comes just two days after the Louisiana Supreme Court denied Lee's defense team more money for the accused serial killer's upcoming trial for the first degree murder of LSU grad student Charlotte Murray Pace.

Lee's defense attorneys are in the process of appealing that ruling. You'll remember the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office chose to indict Lee in Pace's murder because they believe her case has the strongest evidence to get a conviction. However, they've requested that they be allowed to use evidence from the other murders connected to Lee. Lee has pleaded innocent in that case.

Those murders include: Gina Wilson Green, Pam Kinamore, Carrie Yoder -- all of Baton Rouge; Dene Colomb of Lafayette; and Geralyn DeSoto of Addis.