A Franklin County resident was arrested Jan. 4, and charged with first-degree murder in the 1985 death of his wife in Sacramento, Calif.
Michael Debreceny, 46, 432 Eaves Road, in the Epsom community, was arrested by Sacramento police investigators in connection with the death of Lisa Debreceny.
"We assisted the FBI and Sacramento police officers," Sheriff Jerry Jones said.
"He was arrested for murder. It took place 20 years ago in 1985 in Sacramento. It was reopened in 2004. New evidence was discovered six months ago."
According to Sacramento Police Det. Peter Willover, Lisa Debreceny was 19 years old in 1985 and was married to Michael Debreceny, who was 26 at the time.
The couple was involved in drugs, Willover said, but Lisa Debreceny had just had a baby by another man and was in rehab.
"Michael got her out of rehab and took her to a motel with the intent to get her back," Willover said.
"Both (of them) checked in, (but) the next day she was found dead."
An autopsy was performed and Lisa's death was considered suspicious, but the pathologist wouldn't go so far as to label her death a homicide.
"Michael Debreceny wouldn't give a statement at the time. He had attempted suicide by cutting his wrists in the motel that night," Willover said.
Without the pathologist's ruling of a homicide, the case didn't go anywhere, Willover said.
In 2003, the Sacramento Police Department formed a cold case squad that reviews unsolved cases.
"This case was one of the initial ones we took a look at," Willover said.
The current pathologist reviewed the physical evidence and said Lisa Debreceny was definitely a victim of homicide -- determining strangulation was the cause of death. The detectives also reinterviewed witnesses.
"Several witnesses, either friends or relatives, gave more details regarding Michael's relationship with Lisa," Willover said.
Willover said witnesses told of violence in the relationship and drugs and violent behavior in Michael Debreceny's history.
With the Sacramento District Attorney agreeing there was enough evidence to charge Debreceny with his wife's murder, a warrant was issued at the end of December.
After tracking Debreceny to Franklin County through the Internet, the investigators contacted the FBI to confirm his address.
Willover and his partner Det. Toni Sall traveled to North Carolina Jan. 3 and moved on Debreceny Wednesday morning.
According to Jones, Sheriff's officers backed up the two Sacramento police detectives and one FBI agent who arrived at Debreceny's house at 6 a.m. Wednesday while he was getting ready for work.
"The girlfriend answered the door. The officers asked to speak to him and he was taken into custody," Jones said.
"It shocked everyone in Epsom."
According to Jones, Debreceny moved from California to Chicago, Ill., then to North Carolina five years ago.
Jones said Debreceny doesn't have a criminal record in North Carolina.
"We've never had any dealings with him. He's lived a low(profile) life. He has a job and a girlfriend," he added.
Debreceny was taken to Franklin County Jail and held on a fugitive warrant without bond. "He told my guys he knew he would have to go back sometime to face the charges," Jones said.
Willover said Debreceny did not waive extradition to California and is awaiting his next hearing on Jan. 17.
Willover said if he doesn't waive extradition, the Sacramento district attorney's office will pursue a court order to bring him back to California.
Jones said the officers also investigated Debreceny's work site with the Franklin County Child Support Services.
"He has worked there for a couple months," Jones said.
"The (Sacramento police) want to establish what he's been doing in the last year," he said.
Jones said there have been a few occasions when fugitives have been located in Franklin County, but never for a case this old.
