Napa Prosecutors have not charged anyone in the 1974 slaying of Anita Andrews at Fagiani’s bar in Napa. But in January they announced DNA evidence from the scene matches that of Roy Melanson, a career criminal whose journey through the justice system is traced here.
February 13 1937- Melanson born, location unknown. December 6 1956- (19) Sentenced to four years in Louisiana for burglary and theft. January 7 1958- Paroled from prison. November 22 1960- Imprisoned with a two-year sentence for burglary in Orange County, Texas. December 22 1961- Released. November 24 1964- Imprisoned with a 12-year sentence for rape in Jefferson County, Texas. July 27 1970- Released. February 20 1974- Rapes a second woman in Texas. July 11 1974- Anita Andrews found dead at Fagiani’s in Napa. August 30 1974- Michele Wallace gives Melanson a ride near Schofield Park, Colo. September 3 1974- Wallace’s parents report her missing. September 12 1974- A caller reports two men prowling at high school in Pueblo, Colo. Melanson and another man detained. September 14 1974- Melanson arrested for fraud, kiting checks and breaking into a car in Schofield Park, Colo., where police also suspect he killed Wallace. March 1975- Extradited to Texas for trial on the Feb. 20, 1974, rape. November 5- Receives life sentence for rape in Texas; sentence later reduced. July 26 1979- A hiker comes across a head of dark hair in two braids near Kebler Pass, Colo. March 23 1988- Melanson released. July 2 1988- A woman last seen with Melanson goes missing in Port Arthur, Texas-(Pauline Lorraine Klumpp) May 15 1990- Imprisoned in Kentucky on possession of a handgun and stolen property. August 2 1991- Hair found in Colorado wilderness matches that on Michele Wallace’s hair brush. November 6 1991- Melanson released from Kentucky prison. January 1992- Arrested, eventually convicted, on burglary and other charges in Kentucky. August 8 1992- Michele Wallace’s body found. September 1 1993- Melanson sentenced to life for Wallace’s murder. May 2003- Melanson transferred to Colorado prison, where officials take DNA sample. November 2009- Crime lab matches DNA found at Andrews’ slaying to Melanson. Judge grants order for Melanson’s fingerprints, blood, cheek swab and handwriting samples. January 18 2010- Napa police announce they have a suspect in the Andrews case. *Some dates may vary according to criminal record-See gallery slide show Sources: Napa Police Department, former Gunnison Sheriff’s Investigator Kathy Ireland, retired Texas Ranger Haskel Taylor, state prison officials in Texas, Colorado, Kentucky and Louisiana, Register archives and “No Stone Unturned,” by Steve Jackson. |
Where it all began....
Age 76 Born February 13, 1937 in Breauxbridge, Louisiana. Early crimes were in August 1956 where he impersonated a federal officer and forgery in Corpus Christi and received a two (2) year suspended sentence "with supervision". The with supervision didn't stop him from committing burglary in Louisiana where he then received a four (4) year sentence in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in December of 1956, and so began his long career of crimes including rape and murder.