What to know
- Lisa Thorborg, a resident of Carlsbad, was found dead on a hiking trail crossing Hosp Grove Park in Carlsbad on November 23, 2020
- A 17-year-old suspect was arrested for her murder on December 14, 2020
- At a hearing on Dec. 22, the testimony revealed that the teenager’s DNA was found on Thorborg’s shorts; detectives said there was no evidence of robbery or sexual assault in the killing
The DNA of a 17-year-old boy accused of stabbing a woman to death last month on a Carlsbad hiking trail was found on the victim’s shorts, according to testimony heard Tuesday in a juvenile court in San Diego.
The teenager – whose name was not released by police because he is a minor – is accused of murdering 68-year-old Lisa Thorborg.
Thorborg’s body was found on the Hosp Grove route on the morning of November 23. Her death caused shock waves through Carlsbad.
For three weeks, there were no answers as to who killed the grandmother.
On December 14, the teenage suspect was arrested on a beach in Carlsbad in connection with the murder of Thorborg. At last week’s hearing, he denied all charges.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old resident of Carlsbad in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman on a popular hiking trail. Alexis Rivas from NBC 7 has more.
Tuesday’s hearing revealed some of the preliminary facts that led Carlsbad police to arrest the boy, who is still facing the possibility of being charged as an adult.
If a judge decides that the adolescent will be tried as an adult, the defendant will be eligible for life without parole.
Based on evidence heard Tuesday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Richard Monroy ruled that there was enough evidence to allow the case to continue and that the boy, who pleaded not guilty to the charges last week, remain in custody.
Details revealed at the hearing include the fact that the boy’s DNA was found on Thorborg’s shorts and that surveillance footage in the nearby area captured a defendant-like boy fleeing the park about 15 minutes after police believed that Thorborg was killed.
Surveillance records and registration reader data also showed that the boy’s grandmother left him near the park about an hour before the attack.
After Thorborg’s death, police set up a room in the park. Police said the camera captured images of the suspect venturing along the route several times after Nov. 23, often barefoot and wearing flip-flops.
Two pairs of flip-flops, one of which was considered to belong to the teenager, were found near the crime scene.
He was reportedly contacted by police in early December and fled
officers, who took him into custody, at which point his DNA was taken.
The boy was arrested again on December 14, this time in connection with Thorborg’s stabbing.
Detectives did not disclose a suspicious motive for the murder, but confessed that the victim was not robbed or sexually assaulted.
According to him, no outstanding suspects are being sought in this case
Carlsbad Police Lt. Jason Jackowski.
The teenager will be in court again on January 25, 2021.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old resident of Carlsbad in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman on a popular hiking trail. Alexis Rivas from NBC 7 has more.
The murder of Lisa Thorborg
Thorborg was a beloved grandmother who had moved to Carlsbad with her family just 6 months ago.
On the morning of November 23, Carlsbad Police Department detectives believe Thorborg was hiking alone on a path through Hosp Grove Park – just a few blocks from her home.
Investigators said Thorborg posted a few messages on social media in the days leading up to her murder, wondering if there was anyone around who wanted to go hiking with her.
“Hiking someone?” posted on NextDoor, a social networking site that connects neighbors. “I’d love the company.”
The Carlsbad Police Department is still investigating these posts and whether they had anything to do with Thorborg’s murder.
The crime left Carlsbad residents on the sidelines for several weeks.
Earlier this month, police launched a message on social media urging stakeholders not to try to take the investigation into their own hands. Investigators were concerned about messages on social media circulating in the community, suggesting that civilians, frustrated by the lack of progress in this case, would look for suspects in nearby homeless camps.
Following the arrest of the suspect on December 14, Thorborg’s family issued a statement saying they were grateful for the “outpouring of support, love and generosity” from the Carlsbad community.
Following the news of the arrest, Thorborg’s family issued the following statement in part:
“Our family moved here with Lisa just 6 months before her tragic death, and in a year dominated by COVID, there weren’t many opportunities to get to know our new neighbors and make friends. However, since the shocking news of Lisa’s death, there has been an endless outpouring of kindness and generosity that literally brings tears to our eyes and warms our hearts. From the organization of the “Finish Lisa’s Walk” event in Hosp Grove to the many meals, flowers and gifts we received, we want you to know that we feel so loved and supported by this incredible community. “
The family said they were confident the police would help bring justice to Thorborg.
In the weekend following Thorborg’s death, hundreds from the Carlsbad community and beyond organized a “Finish Lisa’s Walk,” a symbolic hike on the same route where the victim was found dead a week earlier.
The community wanted to finish the walk that Thorborg could not finish.
It’s been almost three weeks since someone stabbed 68-year-old Lisa Thorborg on a hiking trail, reports Alexis Rivas of NBC 7