A man from North Carolina has been charged with the 1988 murder of an Orlando woman after advances in DNA technology linked him to the decades‑old case.
The suspect, Willie J. Carpenter, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service North Carolina Regional Task Force on a first‑degree murder charge.
Diane Matthews was found on September 8, 1988, inside a downtown Orlando answering service, where severe injuries had left her unrecognizable. A coworker identified her by her hair. Her remains were recovered the same day.
Investigators collected fingerprints and biological evidence, but DNA analysis was not routinely available at the time. The evidence was preserved while the case went cold. No suspect was identified for many years.
The investigation gained new momentum when Carpenter's DNA entered the Combined DNA Index System after an unrelated sexual offense arrest in North Carolina. A comparison of his DNA to the crime‑scene evidence suggested a match. This prompted a renewed inquiry into the 1988 homicide.
Carpenter was interviewed in 2013 and denied any knowledge of Matthews, refusing to provide a DNA sample. The refusal did not halt the investigation. Authorities continued to pursue the lead.
In 2024, Carpenter voluntarily supplied a DNA sample. Subsequent testing in 2025 reinforced the link between his DNA and biological material from the scene. The evidence was deemed strong enough for formal charges.
After months of evidence review and consultations with prosecutors, an arrest warrant was obtained. Carpenter was taken into custody without incident. He is currently held in North Carolina awaiting extradition to Florida.
The case underscores how modern DNA technology can resolve cold cases that have remained unsolved for decades.
The investigation illustrates the importance of preserving evidence and the evolving capabilities of forensic science.
