Sanford police use DNA evidence to arrest suspect 24 years after woman’s murder

It’s been more than 24 years since a woman’s body was found in Sanford.

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Police said they finally have her killer in custody.

They said the suspect, Gary Durrance, was tracked down in the woods in Orange City.

Read: Orange County cold case detectives identify man found shot to death in 1993

Investigators said Durrance was the boyfriend of the victim and one of a few suspects until last month.

The victim is Sherry Holtz, who was last seen alive leaving a bar with a couple of patrons in December 1999.

Read: Polk County deputies solve 1972 cold case murder

Her body was later found in the woods off of Highway 17-92 where it intersects with the State Road 417 off-ramps.

Police said she was strangled, sexually assaulted and her throat was cut.

Read: Florida deputies hope skeletal remains will help solve 40-year-old cold case

Investigators found a knife at the scene that had too little DNA to test at the time.

Police said they sent it for a new test and it came back as matching the DNA of Durrance.

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