The District Attorney's Office told 17 News that analysis of Christopher Lightsey's DNA shows it doesn't match the DNA taken from the shorts of four-year-old Jessica Martinez. Martinez was killed the evening of May 10, 1990.
Martinez disappeared from the same apartment complex where Lightsey was living at the time. Martinez's body was found 11 days later. But it wasn't until 18 years later that Lightsey was named a suspect.
According to court records, Lightsey served time in prison for molesting young girls. Friends also say the night of Martinez's disappearance, Lightsey left the apartment for hours and came back fidgety.
Monday night, Lightsey spoke exclusively with 17 News in a jailhouse interview about Jessica Martinez' murder.
"Reporter: Did you know Jessica Martinez? Lightsey: No I don't even know what she looks like, no more than you would for right now. I have nothing to do with any murder.
Reporter: And what would you say to her mother? Lightsey: What could I say? I don't know her. I mean, I'm sorry what happened to your child but stop thinking about me, that possibly I was the one who possibly could've killed your child."
Lightsey was temporarily transferred from death row to Bakersfield for a hearing ordered by the State Supreme Court.
The high court ruled in July that a Kern County judge violated state law by failing to appoint an attorney, and instead allowed Lightsey to represent himself during a competency hearing in 1994.
Lightsey was convicted in 1995 of murdering 76-year-old William Compton, and was sentenced to death. His trial was punctuated by numerous courtroom outbursts from the defendant, so much so, that Judge John Kelly ordered Lightsey gagged with duct tape during his sentencing.
"I did not kill Mr. Compton. And I've gotta get a new trial. Judge Lua, you gotta listen to me. The only kind of mental illness I have, if any at all, is the depression that the attorneys are committing on me because of the criminal oppression. That's U.S.C.S. section 241," said Lightsey.
If a judge decides Christopher Lightsey was not competent to represent himself back in 1994 he will get a new trial.
His competency hearing has been delayed until November.
As far as the Jessica Martinez death is concerned, Bakersfield Police say there are no other suspects at this time.
