A San Jose jury convicted 67-year-old Thomas Loguidice, a registered sex offender, in connection with a 1994 cold case kidnapping and robbery, authorities announced this week. Loguidice, presently serving a 40-year sentence for continuous sexual abuse of a child, now faces a potential life sentence after the jury's deliberation, which spanned over two days. As reported by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the verdict followed a week of testimony in front of the Honorable Hanley Chew.
The breakthrough in this decades-old case came last year when the DA’s Cold Case Unit matched DNA evidence from the crime scene to Loguidice through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The DNA discovery led to a belated reckoning for a crime that had haunted the victim and the community for thirty years. District Attorney Jeff Rosen remained resolute despite the challenges of prosecuting an aged case, stating, as per the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, "We do not forget. The passage of time does not minimize this defendant’s violent and horrific acts, and he deserves to be held accountable." He praised the efforts of various departments in bringing Loguidice to justice.
In January 1994, a 21-year-old woman began her morning routine at the President Tuxedo store in Oakridge Mall. According to court documents, she was accosted by Loguidice, who, armed with a knife, forced her into the store’s storage room. There, he restrained and sexually assaulted her after binding her wrists and tying her to a pipe before fleeing with a small amount of cash. The San Jose Police Department pursued several leads until the trail went cold. Loguidice was not charged for the sexual assault due to the statute of limitations, which expired in 2000, noted the District Attorney’s office.
Loguidice is set to receive his sentence on January 15, 2025, at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
