Case overview
Al Kite, a 53-year-old real estate appraiser, was found murdered in his Aurora, Colorado, home on February 1, 2004, after what appeared to be a routine handyman appointment. The crime scene contained forensic evidence and witness reports that pointed investigators toward a suspect, but no arrest has been made. More than two decades later, the case remains unresolved, defined by the final hours before Kite’s death and the man who answered his classified ad.
The victim and the ad
Al Kite lived alone in a townhouse on South Dawson Way in Aurora. He worked as a real estate appraiser and maintained a quiet, orderly life. In late January 2004, Kite placed a classified ad in a local newspaper seeking help with home repairs and maintenance projects. On January 28, 2004, a man who identified himself as Bob Jovanovic called to inquire about the job.
Kite and the caller arranged for Jovanovic to visit the home on February 1, 2004, to discuss the work and provide an estimate. The appointment was logged in Kite’s calendar. Neighbors later told police they saw a man matching the caller’s description arrive at Kite’s residence that afternoon.
The crime scene
Kite was found dead in his home on the evening of February 1, 2004. He had been bound, beaten, and stabbed multiple times. The manner of death was determined to be homicide. Aurora Police investigators noted that the scene showed signs of a prolonged struggle and that Kite’s hands had been restrained with ligatures.
Forensic analysis recovered DNA evidence from the scene, including biological material found on a baseball cap left behind by the suspect. Investigators also collected fingerprints and fibers from the home. The evidence suggested the assailant had spent considerable time inside the residence.
Items were taken from the home, including Kite’s car, a 2002 Buick Rendezvous, which was found abandoned several days later in a parking lot in nearby Denver. The vehicle yielded additional forensic material, including fingerprints that matched those recovered from Kite’s home.
The suspect composite and witness accounts
Witnesses provided descriptions of a man seen arriving at Kite’s home on the day of the murder. Based on their accounts, Aurora Police released a composite sketch of the suspect. The man was described as white, in his thirties or forties, with a medium build and short hair. He was reportedly wearing work clothes and carrying a toolbox.
Investigators traced the phone number used by the man who identified himself as Bob Jovanovic. The number led to a prepaid cell phone purchased at a retail store in the Denver area. Surveillance footage from the store showed a man matching the composite description purchasing the phone days before the murder. The phone was used only to contact Kite and was discarded after the crime.
DNA and the handyman theory
The DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene became central to the investigation. The profile extracted from the baseball cap and other items did not match any individual in the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, at the time. Investigators theorized that the suspect was someone with no prior criminal record or someone whose DNA had not been entered into the database.
The suspect’s use of a false name, a prepaid phone, and the apparent planning involved in the crime led investigators to believe the murder was premeditated. The handyman ruse appeared to have been a deliberate tactic to gain access to Kite’s home.
Over the years, Aurora Police submitted the DNA profile for comparison against new entries in CODIS, but no match has been identified. Investigators have also pursued leads involving individuals who placed similar classified ads or contacted other homeowners in the Denver area during the same period, but none resulted in charges.
Investigative developments and media attention
The case received renewed attention in 2008 when it was featured on the television program “America’s Most Wanted.” The episode highlighted the composite sketch, the DNA evidence, and the timeline of events leading to Kite’s death. Tips were generated, but none led to an arrest.
In 2011, Aurora Police announced they were re-examining the case using updated forensic technology. Investigators indicated that advances in DNA analysis and genealogical databases might provide new leads. The department also issued public appeals for information, emphasizing that the suspect’s DNA profile remained on file and could be matched if the individual came into contact with law enforcement or voluntarily submitted a sample.
In 2019, the case was reviewed again in the context of investigative genetic genealogy, a method that had been used successfully in other cold cases, including the Golden State Killer investigation. Aurora Police confirmed they were working with external labs to explore whether genetic genealogy could identify the suspect through familial DNA matches. As of 2025, no public announcement of a break in the case has been made.
The unanswered questions
The murder of Al Kite remains unresolved. The identity of the man who called himself Bob Jovanovic has never been confirmed. The DNA profile from the crime scene has not matched any individual in law enforcement databases, and no suspect has been charged.
Investigators have noted that the suspect’s behavior suggests familiarity with forensic countermeasures, including the use of a prepaid phone, a false identity, and the apparent attempt to avoid leaving traceable evidence. The timeline of the crime, the method of entry, and the level of violence used against Kite have led some investigators to theorize that the suspect may have committed similar crimes elsewhere.
The case has been classified as a cold case homicide by the Aurora Police Department, but it remains open and active. Detectives continue to review new forensic submissions and follow leads generated by advances in DNA technology.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “On the Case with Paula Zahn” (Investigation Discovery)
- Book: “The Cases That Haunt Us” by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker
- Podcast: “Crime Junkie” (Audiochuck)
