The Pittsburg Police Department is pleased to announce the successful resolution of a 17-year-old “cold case homicide investigation”, bringing long-awaited justice and closure to the family of Larry Abercrombie Sr.
On September 9th, 2024, Desante Blake, a 40-year-old Antioch resident, pleaded no contest to charges of Manslaughter, Attempted Robbery, and additional firearm enhancements stemming from the 2007 killing of Abercrombie Sr. during an attempted armed robbery in front of his home on S. Catamaran Circle. Today, Blake was sentenced to 23 years in state prison.
The case remained unsolved for over a decade until a breakthrough in 2023, when newly processed Touch DNA evidence from the victim’s clothing led to a CODIS match linking Blake to the crime. CODIS is a national database of DNA profiles that helps law enforcement solve crimes Investigators uncovered that in 2010, a search warrant served at a home where Blake was staying revealed a handgun magazine, gun box, and purchase receipt for the firearm used in the homicide. Although the gun was not recovered at the time, this discovery played a crucial role in establishing probable cause for a new search warrant.
In 2023, a renewed search of Blake’s home uncovered the murder weapon hidden in a jacket pocket in his closet, along with additional illegal firearms. Ballistic examinations confirmed the weapon’s involvement in the shooting, and a one-to-one comparison of Blake’s DNA further linked him to the crime scene.
The combined efforts of numerous dedicated detectives, patrol officers, DA investigators, and support from our community partners resulted in the final charges and today’s sentence.
We are proud of the teamwork and tenacity that led to the resolution of this case. The Pittsburg Police Department would like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone involved in this investigation, especially those who helped bring justice to the Abercrombie family after all these years.
