Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say they recently used DNA to solve a 6-year-old murder case.

Police on Wednesday arrested Steven Antonio Elam, 37, and charged him with the November, 2004, carjacking and killing of Ronnie Dale Page, who was 32 at the time of his death.

On November 21, 2004, according to police, Page was driving to his sister’s home with his niece when Elam approached Page’s car and ordered him out. Police say Elam had just carjacked another vehicle at the Sav Way on Central Avenue.

When Page did not comply fast enough, according to police, Elam became agitated and fired his weapon into the driver’s side window, removed Page by force then stood over Page and shot him multiple times before fleeing in the victim’s car. Page’s niece was still in the vehicle.

Police say Elam then drove to a location off Central Avenue and demanded that an unknown couple take the child. He then left the stolen vehicle there and fled on foot, according to police.

Police recently reopened the investigation as part of a cold-case review.

They arrested Elam after his DNA, which had been entered into the National DNA Database following a 2007 arrest on a weapons charge, allegedly matched DNA found in the two carjacked vehicles in 2004.

Elam was charged with murder, two counts of armed robbery, second-degree kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Elam was convicted on October 2002 for possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance.

Police said Elam’s arrest was the 31st homicide case cleared by the Cold Case Unit since its inception in 2003.
 

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