Police Follow New Lead In Durham Woman's 2005 Slaying

DURHAM, N.C. — More than 18 months after a young mother was found slain in her Durham home, police continue to follow leads in the case and remain confident of making an arrest.

Janet Abaroa was stabbed to death April 26, 2005, in her house on Ferrand Drive, near Interstate 85 in west Durham. The 25-year-old woman, who was pregnant, had been stabbed in the chest, police said.

Raven Abaroa told police he found his wife in an upstairs bedroom. The couple's son, Kaiden, who was 6 months old at the time, was nearby, but wasn't hurt.

Investigators said Wednesday they received a new tip in the case last week.

"We did just get a lead on the case that involves computers," said Cpl. Sheldon Perkins of the Durham Police Department, who declined to be more specific.

Shortly after the slaying, investigators seized the couple's e-mail accounts and sifted through correspondence before and after the murder.

Also, a laptop computer was listed in court documents as missing from the home.

Investigators said much of their work in the past year has involved tying outside information to clues found at the scene.

"We got a lot of forensic evidence on the scene," Perkins said. "But sometimes it's just as important the evidence you don't find."

Police said they believe Janet Abaroa knew her killer, noting there was no forced entry into the house.

Investigators have interveiwed dozens of people, some of them more than once, he said.

"We have some people we're looking at, and we do have a person of interest," he said. "I feel it's a very good case."

Raven Abaroa and his son now live in Utah.