Suspect identified in 1997 beating death of California man who was out for a walk

SAN JOSE, Calif. (TCN) -- Investigators recently identified a man who died in 2022 as a suspect in the fatal beating of a victim whose body was found outside a home nearly 30 years ago.

On July 16, 1997, the San Jose Police Department responded to a report of an unconscious man on Boynton Avenue and found 28-year-old Karen Gevorkov. Officers said he had been "brutally attacked" and died of blunt force trauma. Despite their efforts, investigators were unable to identify a suspect or make any arrests at the time.

Gevorkov was allegedly last seen alive on the evening of July 15, 1997, walking with a friend near Starbird Park. Police said the surviving friend told officials that he and Gevorkov were "approached by three men when one attacked them" with a bat. The witness wasn’t able to identify the suspects, but investigators named Victor Ferguson as a person of interest.

According to an April 14 news release from police, a breakthrough in the case came in 2024, when, with the help of advanced DNA testing, Ferguson’s DNA matched to the victim’s clothing, "providing conclusive evidence of his involvement in the crime." Officers also said that in 2016, a former inmate had come forward in 1997, "providing information implicating Ferguson" in Gevorkov’s cold case death, but Ferguson was never formally interviewed.

Ferguson reportedly moved to Kansas after the attack and died in 2022.

Chief of Police Paul Joseph said, "While justice may be delayed, the victim is never forgotten."

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan added, "Although the truth won’t bring him back, it brings answers and hopefully closure for a family who has been waiting for both for a long time now. I want to thank our police department for never giving up in the pursuit of justice — no matter how long it takes, we can all feel safer knowing that those who harm our community will always be found."

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