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LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - This week marks 26 years since the murder of Rose Born.

July 8, 1998, Born was stabbed 27 times at her donut shop on 18th Street. Her body was behind the counter. It was a cold case for nearly 20 years until Dennis Jerome Bartie was arrested and charged with her murder in 2016.

Bartie was already in prison for stabbing another woman when Lake Charles Police announced DNA connected him to the killing of Born.

The late Lake Charles Police Chief, Don Dixon, released the details at a news conference in 2016.

“The LSP (Louisiana State Police) retested Born’s fingernails, and obtained a DNA profile for a male,” Dixon said. “Bartie told investigators he committed the crime because he needed a ride home,”

Since his arrest, Born’s family members have witnessed one delay after another-- so much so, that they despair there will be no justice for Rose.

Her sister, Rita Theriot, says everything that can be said, has been said.

“We’ve given up. We know Rose is in heaven. Justice will be served one day, and that’s it. If and when something comes up, okay.” Theriot said in an interview in 2023.

A spokesperson for the Calcasieu District Attorney’s office told us “The defense is the holdup with their DNA expert.”

However, defense attorneys Todd Clemons and Adam Johnson said “Bartie is eagerly awaiting his day in court so that justice can be served. The delay has not been caused by the defense.”

The defense attorneys say they hired a DNA expert in December 2022 and asked for more information from the state so their expert can give opinions on the state expert’s conclusions.

A statement from the defense says, “The district attorney’s office has told us on multiple occasions that they will provide that information to us but to date, they have not done so.” Their comments conclude, “Until the state complies with its discovery obligation the case will not be in a posture for trial.”

But the D.A.’s office responded “The defense asked for additional DNA testing of fingerprints and in March of 2024, our office sent the defense counsel those findings and everything they are entitled to as it pertains to DNA testing. The law states that the defense is entitled to their testing of DNA and that is exactly what the defense counsel did in this case.”

To move forward, prosecutors say “We must receive the findings from the defense counsel’s DNA examination.”

The trial is set for October 21 before Judge Clayton Davis.

Below are the full statements from the D.A.’s office and defense attorneys:

Dennis Bartie is eagerly waiting for his day in court so that justice can be served. Like our client, we feel like the trial in this case is long overdue. However, the delay has not been caused by the defense.

We retained our own DNA expert several years ago. In December of 2022, we filed a Motion for Additional Discovery. Our motion detailed specific information that our expert needs to properly evaluate the methodologies utilized by the state’s expert. He also needs this data so that he can opine on their expert’s conclusions.

The District Attorney’s Office has told us on multiple occasions that they will provide that information to us. However, to date they have not done so. Until the state complies with its discovery obligation, the case will not be in a posture for trial.

Attorneys for Dennis Bartie, Todd S. Clemons & Adam P. Johnson

The Calcasieu D.A’.s office offered this comment.

“The family of Rose Born deserves closure and justice. We understand the frustration that is felt with the delay, and we too, want nothing more than to proceed with trial. As with every trial we prosecute, we comply with all discovery obligations and that is no different with this case. The defense counsel requested additional DNA testing of fingerprints and in March of 2024, our office sent the defense counsel those findings and everything they are entitled to as it pertains to DNA testing. The law states that the defense is entitled to their own testing of DNA and that is exactly what the defense counsel did in this case. In order to move forward with this case, we must receive the findings from the defense counsel’s DNA examination.”

Sent from Calcasieu D.A. spokesperson.