The Antioch Police Department announced Monday that shortly before 5:00 PM, officers arrested 63 year old Mitchell Lynn Bacom of Antioch for the kidnap, rape and murder of 14 year old Suzanne Bombardier in 1980.
The case was brought to a resolution with the help of DNA evidence.
Here is the official press release via Antioch Police
FILE: 80-2673
INCIDENT: Homicide
DATE OF INCIDENT: June 1980
LOCATION: 3421 Hudson Court
This evening at approximately 5:00 PM, the Antioch Police Department made an arrest for the June 1980 abduction, rape and killing of 14 year old Suzanne Bombardier. She was taken in the middle of the night from her sister’s home at 3421 Hudson Court in Antioch while babysitting.
She was missing for approximately 5 days and eventually found deceased in the San Joaquin River near the Antioch Bridge. Her cause of death was determined to be one stab wound to the chest which penetrated her heart.
Evidence at the time indicated she had been sexually assaulted.
Numerous suspects and persons of interest were developed and investigated over the years. Some were eliminated while others remained unresolved until recently. Through DNA testing, one of those suspects, 63 year old Mitchell Lynn Bacom of Antioch, has been determined to be responsible for these heinous crimes. He is currently being held on the charges of murder, kidnapping, rape and oral copulation.
In 1973, Bacom was arrested in Mountain View, Ca. for rape, robbery, assault with intent to commit murder and oral copulation. As a result of that investigation, he was convicted in 1974 of first and second degree burglary, assault with intent to murder and sodomy. He was sentenced to five years to life.
In February of 1981, Bacom was arrested for robbery and rape in Isleton, Ca. As a result of that case, he was convicted of first degree burglary, robbery, rape and sodomy. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
In 2002, Bacom was convicted in Contra Costa County of failing to properly register as a sex offender and sentenced to 4 years in prison. This conviction was the result of a Pittsburg PD investigation.
When the biological evidence was originally collected in this case, DNA testing did not exist as a method of determining guilt in our justice system. Over the years, the Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office have monitored developments in DNA testing in the hopes that advancements would be made allowing this evidence to be processed and a DNA profile developed. In 2015, the decision was made to submit the biological evidence to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory in an effort to develop a DNA profile. This lab was equipped to conduct some of the most advanced available DNA testing.
In early 2017, the department was notified that a CODIS hit was made tentatively identifying Mitchell Lynn Bacom as the perpetrator. Additional testing was required in order to confirm the identification.
Although we are ecstatic an arrest has been made in this case it will not bring Suzanne back into her family’s lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with Suzanne Bombardier’s family and we hope this mystery being solved offers some level of comfort for them.
Although in recent years there was some question relative to our commitment regarding this investigation, we never gave up on bringing this case to a resolution. The reality was that science had to make advances in order for a positive identification of the killer to be made. It was through patience, persistence, networking, modern investigative techniques and scientific advances that this case was solved.
This arrest closes the oldest, open cold case homicide on record with the Antioch Police Department.
The Antioch Police Department will be networking with other law enforcement agencies in an effort to determine if Mitchell Lynn Bacom has been involved in other murders and/or sexual assaults. We encourage anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Antioch Police Department.
Additionally, we are hoping to hear from any of Mitchell Lynn Bacom’s past victims, including those who may have never made reports to law enforcement.
14 comments
Creep creep creep! But what I don’t understand is why his sentences all appear to be shortened?? Had the not, poor Suzanne would probably still be alive!!
Great job by APD and associated law enforcement agencies. While this action won’t bring Suzanne back, it will bring justice to the victim and her family. DNA testing, it’s a great thing. M
Give me 5 minutes alone with this Fuker! How was this POS released from prison and able to do all this crap? The judges and parole boards need to accountable too! I hate reading these stories!
Wow. Thank goodness for DNA.
I knew Suzanne, she and her friends would come to Roller World in Concord to roller skate where I worked as a DJ. She would always come to the DJ booth and make song requests and was the sweetest and most polite young girl. So much so I could never turn her down even if her request was not on the playlist. When she was murdered I good piece of my heart went numb. I couldn’t understand how such a beautiful, sweet young girl could be killed and discarded like she was nothing. I have thought about her from time to time over all these years and wondered if anyone would ever be caught and held responsible for her brutal murder. I just assumed after all this time that the police were unable to find the person responsible due to lack of evidence. I am so glad that this was not the case. I just hope that this monster will be found guilty and suffer in prison like he made Suzanne suffer. RIP sweet girl, I will always remember your joyful, happy disposition and I am so sorry for what happened to you and your family…always in our minds and forever in our hearts ~ Paul Reider
Thank god for DNA! !!! But as many times as they had him in prison and keept letting him back out those victims would not of been victims! !! But this time get it right fry him! !!!
This scumbag’s criminal record shows a clear pattern of reoffending immediately each time he’s released from prison. He never should have been allowed out of prison ever. This time execute him.
Could he be the one that killed Lisa Norrell and Jessica Frederick and two other unsolved murders?
Put this POS and all these sickos in general population in prison, they will get exactly what they deserve!
Men like this should never be let out of prison. He’s right up there with Richard Allen Davis. Fry the POS immediately.
To call this POS a man, is too generous…Yes fry him!
Although it doesn’t bring this innocent sweet girl back, at least her family can have some kind of a closure now, knowing what happened and he is put away, hopefully, for good!…..many prayers to you all.
Geez with a record like that he’s not the only one who should be held accountable ???
My God, girls and women are victimized all the time, and then taken from their families like they don’t even matter! The world needs to check it’s self, and we all need to raise our sons better or something, WTH??, this is the saddest thing, but I’m happy they FINALLY are going to put him away for good.
Comments are closed.