Santa Cruz Transient Arrested on Suspicion of Pleasanton Cold Case Murder

Steven John Carlson, a Santa Cruz transient, was arrested at the Santa Cruz County Jail by Pleasanton police yesterday morning on suspicion of murdering Tina Faelz, a 14-year-old Pleasanton girl stabbed to death in 1984, according to the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office.

New biological evidence discovered in October 2010 led to the suspect's arrest–27 years later, according to a .

Carlson, 43, had been jailed at the Santa Cruz County Jail on a number of drug-related charges, with his most recent conviction being in December. Upon his release from jail Sunday, he was detained by Pleasanton police, Santa Cruz sheriff's deputies said.

It's unclear how long Carlson had been living in Santa Cruz County prior to his latest arrest.

His previous charges included possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence of controlled substances, including alcohol and opiates, according to District Attorney, Bob Lee.

Carlson is also a registered sex offender under Megan's Law, a source said.

Pleasanton police said the suspect was a 16-year-old classmate of Faelz's, where both attended Foothill High School. Although Pleasanton police are unable to confirm the suspect's name until the case is cleared through the juvenile court system, records of Carlson's December 1967 birth date indicate he was 16-years-old at the time of the murder.

Alameda County prosecutors said they would seek to move the suspect from juvenile to adult court through a fitness hearing in front of a judge, following laws in place in 1984. The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center in San Leandro.