Los Angeles: On August 21, 1975, Mamie Johnston, 84-years of age, was found inside of her home in South Los Angeles. Johnston's death was attributed to multiple stab wounds and strangulation. The apparent motive of the crime was a home-invasion robbery.
Mamie Johnston was born on December 20, 1890. Prior to her death, she lived at her residence at 1027 West 84th Place for approximately 50 years. At the time of the original investigation, residents in the neighborhood stated that Mamie Johnston was known throughout the neighborhood as "Miss Mamie." She was well liked by her neighbors and was often seen giving treats to the neighborhood children.
Although an extensive investigation was conducted, no viable suspects were identified during the original investigation. However, Johnston's murder was re-opened in 1993 after fingerprints recovered from within the crime scene were matched to Phyliss Carraway. Detectives interviewed Carraway; during which time, she subsequently confessed to participating in the crime. During Carraway's confession, she implicated two additional male suspects. Carraway identified these individuals as Alvino Ray Love and Carl Eric Price; however, insufficient evidence was present to corroborate her statements and these two individuals were never prosecuted. For her participation in this heinous crime, Carraway was sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
During 2004, Cold Case Homicide Unit Detectives submitted additional fingerprints recovered from the Mamie Johnston crime scene into an automated fingerprint database. As a result, one of these prints was matched to Carl Eric Price.
Carl Price is currently 50 years of age. At the time of the Mamie Johnston's murder, he was only 17 years old. He is currently a registered sex offender and has been arrested for various crimes, which include robbery.
On March 18, 2007, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a felony murder/robbery warrant for the arrest of Carl Eric Price.
On March 19, 2008, officers assigned to the Fugitive Marshall Task Force located Carl Price and he was successfully taken into custody.
It should be noted that on June 28, 2006, Alvino Ray Love died in Victorville, California, as the result of being hit by a train.
Further inquiries can be made to Detective Salaam Abdul of Robbery-Homicide Division's Cold Case Special Section at 213-847-0970.
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