A Santa Ana man awaiting trial on a murder charge has been linked through DNA evidence to the 1990 killing of a transgender prostitute in Ontario.

Richard Reil, a 49-year-old parolee, is awaiting trial in the killing of Alex Camacho, 35, of Santa Ana, who was shot to death in 1700 block of West Flora Street in June 2009. Authorities said Reil and Camacho were drinking together when the two got into an argument and Reil shot Camacho once in the upper body.

Now, authorities have linked Reil to another crime – the March 22, 1990, slaying of Lyle William Foster.

Ontario police believe Foster, 24, who went by the name Kathy, was killed after a customer discovered that she was transgender, according to the Daily Breeze.

Authorities said Foster was shot three times in the head and her body was found in a vacant field. Twenty-five years later, authorities were able to link Reil to the crime through DNA evidence.

While Foster was slain in Ontario, the Orange County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case and charged Reil with Foster’s killing in May.

Reil has pleaded not guilty to Camacho’s killing. He is due to be arraigned for Foster’s killing on Sept. 18.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com