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Charges were filed Tuesday in the 1995 gunshot slaying of a man in Salt Lake City.

Antonio Luis Martinez, 34, is charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder for the July 30, 1995, killing of John Wollshleger .

"I can't underscore what this means to us," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

He said when a crime remains unsolved, the family and the community can't have closure.

"Sixteen years after the fact, justice still calls out for accountability," Gill said. "From our perspective ... we have identified the right person who needs to be held accountable."

Martinez, who is listed as a Murray resident, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $1 million cash bail.

According to charging documents, police on July 30, 1995, found a small pickup truck parked on the side of the road at 1550 South 700 West.

In the bed of the pickup truck was the body of Wollshleger, 30, of Sandy, who had been fatally shot in the head. The victim's legs were wrapped around the handlebars of a white bicycle.

Police observed significant abrasions and contusions on the victim's back, as if the victim had been dragged over concrete and asphalt prior to being placed in the bed of the pickup truck.

The Utah Medical Examiner's Office certified the death as a homicide and noted that the gunshot wound was consistent with having been caused by a higher-caliber firearm.

After a May 2003 arrest involving drugs and weapons, Martinez told a Salt Lake City police officer that when he was younger he had done a crime so bad that he had to flee to Mexico and live there for a year. The defendant told the officer he had been on the run for that crime ever since and had never been interviewed by the police. There was no information in charging documents as to whether police investigated Martinez's claims in 2003.

Solving a 16-year-old cold case is an example of "good old-fashioned police work" Gill said, crediting Salt Lake City police.

"When these kinds of crimes occur, there are dedicated men and women who will hold these criminals accountable."

It wasn't until fifteen years after the slaying that the investigation gained significant ground.

"The real break came about a year ago when [police] were able to find another witness who was able to put Martinez at this party and saw him kill this person," Gill said.

Earlier this year, two witnesses told police they saw Martinez shoot and kill Wollshleger.

On Jan. 25, a witness described being present at the party where Wollshleger was killed. In the same interview, the witness said Martinez had a gun at the party and they saw him shoot Wollshleger. The witness described the firearm as a rifle.

On Feb. 29, another witness described being present at the party where Wollshleger was killed. The witness indicated the party took place at approximately 747 W. 1300 South in Salt Lake City. The witness described seeing Martinez at the party with a long rifle, and seeing the defendant shoot Wollshleger.

On March 11, police interviewed Martinez, who said he owned a 30-06 hunting rifle in 1995.

Previously, Salt Lake City homicide detectives were seeking DNA samples from three individuals to compare with DNA found at the scene of the crime, according to a search warrant. In March, police met with Martinez; a few days later charges were filed.

Martinez has a prior criminal history in Utah involving drugs, alcohol and weapons, according to court documents.

Martinez's initial appearance is scheduled for March 22 before Judge Ann Boyden.

First-degree felony murder is punishable by up to life in prison.

Cimaron Neugebauer contributed to this report.