A man from Santa Cruz, Calif., who was put on trial for unsolved murder in Lake Havasu City, won his freedom Monday. The development came at the end of the week-long trial of Stacey Childs, 61.

Childs was charged with second-degree murder in the April 2005 choking death of a Canadian tourist. The body of Barbara Callow, 45, Ottawa, was found in her room at her Inn in Windsor. outside.

Deputy County Attorney Amanda Clairhaut said a pillow and phone cord were missing from Room 139, and the coroner noted Carrow had lacerations to his cheeks, bruises around his neck, and ligature marks on his legs. said.

Kalow’s rental car disappeared from the motel property and was later abandoned on Interstate 15 in California.

Current Lake Havasu City Police Chief Troy Sterling was a detective when he interviewed Childs in 2005 as part of an investigation.

A new analysis of DNA evidence collected from Childs in 2008 from under the victim’s fingernails in 2005 led to the 2022 decision to indict Childs.

Attorney Paul Ammann said Childs was willing to cooperate with police investigators and provide DNA samples. told the jury.

The jury deliberated for more than four hours over two days before notifying Judge Derek Carlisle that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge ultimately declared not guilty and acquitted the jury.

Clairhaut then expressed his intention to try Childs again. Judge Carlyle has derailed plans to lead to an acquittal of Childs’ release from adult prison.

“Stacey is out,” said Amann.