Opelousas Police have solved a 22-year-old murder investigation.

In 1996, the Opelousas City Police Department found a woman’s body found in the Zion grave yard. After an autopsy, it was determined that the woman had died of strangulation. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Melissa Thomas. 

Police say since that time the case went cold without any leads. In 2009, they reopened the case. Earlier this year, a suspect was identified. 

Earlier this month, an interview was conducted  and a confession has been obtained from 78-year-old Samuel Little.

He is currently in custody in the state of Texas, but is serving multiple life sentences for other crimes.

 He is currently the suspect in multiple homicides across the United States.