Witness links man to site where woman's body found

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A San Jose housekeeper, artist and former assistant apartment complex manager has for the first time linked a man on trial for murder with the carport where a woman's body was dumped nearly 30 years ago.

Barbara Kelch testified Monday in the death penalty trial of 60-year-old Melvin Forte, who's charged in the shooting death of 23-year-old Ines Sailor. Her body was found Jan. 1, 1981 in a carport in East San Jose.

Kelch told Forte, who's acting as his own attorney, that she recalled seeing him often at the 142-unit complex -- but acknowledged she didn't remember him until she saw him in court.

She also said she suspected Forte of "suspicious activity" because he was much older than the people with whom she saw him and because his unit had frequent visitors.

Get more South Bay News »

cold case, trials, san jose, south bay news

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•