DNA leads Tallahassee Police to arrest man on murder charge in 25-year-old cold case

Christopher Cann, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read

More than 20 years after a man was found dead in a Tallahassee hotel room, the Tallahassee Police Department on Tuesday arrested a suspect in connection with the homicide.

Alan Lefferts, 71, was taken into custody Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of James Branner.

On July 2, 1996, Branner was found dead in a room at the Prince Murat Motel, 745 N. Monroe St., according to a TPD summary of the investigation. At the time, police officials immediately labeled his death as a homicide based on evidence found at the scene and an autopsy report, but the case went unsolved.

James Edwin Branner
James Edwin Branner

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In 2020, however, TPD detectives reopened the case, and used new forensic technology to analyze DNA found at the original crime scene.

The investigative lead that pointed detectives toward Lefferts was developed with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia company that provides DNA phenotype services for police.

Police say the crime occurred during 'altercation inside a hotel room'

Detectives eventually developed enough probable cause to arrest Lefferts for the alleged killing of Branner "during a physical altercation inside a motel room," according to a TPD summary.

Lefferts was picked up at this home in Jacksonville with assistance from the Baker County Sheriff's Office, according to a press release.

This story from the July 9, 1996 Tallahassee Democrat, reported that Branner's death was being considered a homicide.
This story from the July 9, 1996 Tallahassee Democrat, reported that Branner's death was being considered a homicide.

Archives: The Tallahassee Democrat archives are available as far back as 1905

"Solving a case that occurred nearly 26 years ago speaks volumes to the dedication and great collaborative effort between our state and local law enforcement partners," TPD Deputy Chief Jason Laursen said in a statement. "Our detectives and forensic specialists work tirelessly every day to seek justice for victims and ensure those responsible for crimes are held accountable. We're hopeful this arrest will bring some level of closure to the victim's surviving loved ones."

Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TPD arrests man on murder charge in 25-year-old cold case