Gallegos said he respects the jury's decision and understands that the burden of proof for a crime rests with the prosecution.

◼ Defendant acquitted in decade-old murder case; Miller released from Humboldt jail Tuesday - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard

After spending nearly one year in jail, a man accused of stabbing a Eureka woman to death in 2002 was released Tuesday following his acquittal.

The jury serving on the case of Joseph Eugene Miller, 43, began deliberations Tuesday morning to decide whether Miller was guilty of murder in the death of Beverly Jean Jacob, 46. Miller was arrested May 19, 2011.

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said it took the jury less than three hours Tuesday to acquit Miller.

”They thought there was reasonable doubt,” Gallegos said.

On his own. No slam dunk.

◼ Humboldt jury acquits Miller of murder
◼ DA: DNA key evidence in 10-year-old murder case; defense in Miller trial says investigation haphazard in closing arguments Monday

While prosecutors of a 2002 murder case argued Monday that the man accused of stabbing a woman to death in Eureka is guilty because of DNA evidence, the defense points to a “haphazard investigation.”

◼ Cold case heads to trial; jury selection under way in 2002 murder case - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

Deputy District Attorney Ben McLaughlin said the process of selecting a jury to hear Miller's trial began Monday, but he declined to comment further on the case.

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◼ Man arrested in connection with 2002 murder; officials say DNA 'cold hit' reopened stabbing death case - Kaci Poor/The Times-Standard 5/20/2011

For five years, the identity of Jacob's murderer remained a mystery. Her file grew cold in the

Eureka Police Department, but in 2007 a DNA “cold hit” warmed the case up. The hit, obtained by a criminalist from the Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services, revealed Miller's DNA on an item of clothing worn by Jacob at the time of her death, officials said.

According to the Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Sciences, or BFS, a “cold hit,” like the one used to implicate Miller, occurs once every day in California. According to the BFS, “A hit occurs when DNA evidence from an unsolved crime sample matches a DNA profile from evidence in another case or an offender's DNA profile in the CAL-DNA Convicted Felons database.”

The DNA evidence prompted a comprehensive investigation by the EPD and BII, which led to Miller's eventual arrest.

“The lab results opened the door for further investigation,” O'Neill said. “Homicide cases are never closed until we find an answer.”

Man arrested in connection with 2002 murder; officials say DNA 'cold hit' reopened stabbing death case

◼ Man arrested in connection with 2002 murder; officials say DNA 'cold hit' reopened stabbing death case

A man accused of fatally stabbing a 46-year-old woman who was discovered dead in her Eureka apartment nine years ago pleaded not guilty to murder charges Thursday.

Joseph Eugene Miller, 42, is accused of murdering Beverly Jean Jacob, whose body was discovered in April 2002 after a maintenance man notified police there was a foul smell coming from her E Street apartment. Officials suspected she had been dead for up to three weeks. The coroner's office said Jacob died as a result of numerous stab wounds to the neck and chest.

A preliminary hearing date is set for June 2 to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial. Miller's bail is set at $1 million....

For five years, the identity of Jacob's murderer remained a mystery. Her file grew cold in the Eureka Police Department, but in 2007 a DNA “cold hit” warmed the case up. The hit, obtained by a criminalist from the Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services, revealed Miller's DNA on an item of clothing worn by Jacob at the time of her death, officials said....