NewsLocal News

Actions

Possible break in 2010 cold case murder in Cal City

Police collect evidence from vehicle that may have been used after killing
Posted
and last updated

Police in California City may be getting closer to making an arrest in a murder that's been unsolved for nearly decade.

Court documents obtained by 23ABC News Monday show investigators recently seized new evidence in the murder of Matthew Lininger, who was stabbed to death in his home on Jan. 4, 2010.

Floor mats were seized and DNA swabs were taken from inside a vehicle investigators think the killer may have caught a ride in after the murder.

Detectives have not made any arrests in Lininger's murder, but based on blood trail evidence at the scene, they believe the killer was likely covered in blood and left a trail out of the house, down the driveway where the trail disappeared. Based on the amount of blood at the end of the driveway, investigators suspect the killer waited there until a vehicle picked him up.

According to the documents, the victim's girlfriend's ex-boyfriend at the time was identified as a possible suspect during the investigation.

The documents also show that on June 6, 2019, investigators seized the floor mats from a tan 2001 Toyota Avalon. In 2010, that vehicle was registered to a man who was friends with the potential suspect and detectives believe he may have given the suspect a ride that night, possibly leaving evidence in the vehicle.

In July of 2010, according to the court documents, that vehicle was sold to a Baldwin Park resident. The new owner gave investigators permission to take possession of the vehicle and collect evidence.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

03/06/2025

Light Rain Early

-° / 44°

70%

Friday

03/07/2025

Clear

60° / 41°

3%

Saturday

03/08/2025

Clear

70° / 44°

1%

Sunday

03/09/2025

Mostly Clear

76° / 47°

0%

Monday

03/10/2025

Showers Early

68° / 47°

33%

Tuesday

03/11/2025

Partly Cloudy

66° / 48°

11%

Wednesday

03/12/2025

Rain

66° / 45°

71%

Thursday

03/13/2025

Showers Early

54° / 40°

45%