The suspect arrested in the Christine Morton’s 1986 murder has been identified as Mark Alan Norwood, 57, who public records show lived near the scene of a related Austin murder in 1988.
Norwood lived in the 1400 block of Justin Lane starting in 1985, records show - one block from the Brentwood Neighborhood house where Debra Masters Baker was found bludgeoned to death in her bed.
Baker’s murder remains unsolved. Norwood has not been arrested in the Baker murder, and Austin police say they will have nothing to say about Norwood’s arrest as their investigation continues.
This summer, Norwood’s DNA was found on a bandanna that also contained Christine Morton’s blood. DNA tests also confirmed that his pubic hair was found in the bedroom where Baker was killed. Police have said that owner of the hair and Baker did not know each other, providing no legitimate reason for his hair to be found at the murder scene.
Public records show Norwood was arrested in Texas in 1975 for marijuana possession, receiving one year of probation, and in 1987 for burglary of an auto and three counts of theft, receiving a four-year prison sentence that began in January 1989.
California records show arrests for narcotics possession, resisting arrest and possession of a dangerous weapon in February 2008.
More as it becomes available.