A Northern California man has been arrested on suspicion of raping and killing a woman four decades ago after investigators used an advanced search technique to identify the suspect through DNA of possible family members.

Phillip Lee Wilson, 71, was arrested at his home on Thursday on suspicion of killing Robin Gisela Brooks, who was 20 years old when she was stabbed to death in her Rosemont apartment on April 24, 1980.

Brooks was last seen walking home alone after ending her night shift around midnight at the Donut Time shop on Keifer Boulevard and Tallyho Drive, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.

Phillip Lee Wilson (left), 71, was arrested at his home on Thursday on suspicion of killing Robin Gisela Brooks (right), who was 20 years old when she was stabbed to death in her Rosemont apartment on April 24, 1980

Brooks' friend discovered her body in the bedroom of her home after she failed to show up for her 4pm shift at Donut Time. Brooks had been sexually assaulted and stabbed multiple times

Authorities said later in the day on April 24, a friend of Brooks arrived at her apartment for a swim date but she didn't receive a response at the door.

At 4pm, when Brooks failed to show up for her shift at the donut shop, her friend forced her way into her apartment and found Brooks dead in her bedroom, police said.

Brooks had been sexually assaulted and stabbed multiple times.

There were no immediate suspects and the case went cold until 2004 when investigators developed a DNA profile from the person who apparently cut himself during the assault.

Sgt Micki Links, who continued to investigate the case after she retired, said detectives used genetic genealogy to link Wilson to the crime.

The same DNA search technique was used to capture the suspected Golden State Killer who committed a series of California rapes and killings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sgt Micki Links (right), who continued to investigate the case after she retired, said detectives used genetic genealogy to link Wilson to the crime

WHAT IS GENETIC GENEALOGY? In the past year, investigators across the country have embraced genetic genealogy, a DNA-dependent forensic technique that identifies suspects through their relatives. The technique involves cross-referencing the DNA profile of an unidentified suspect with public databases containing DNA from users who've submitted samples to consumer companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com to explore their family tree and get informed about potential genetic health concerns. Genetic genealogy gained notoriety through decades-old cold cases like the Golden State Killer, and police are now using it on fresh cases as well. While many are excited by what genetic genealogy means for the future of forensic investigations, others have expressed concerns about genetic privacy and policy procedures. Advertisement

'I have been involved in this investigation for 16 years,' Links said Friday at a news conference announcing Wilson's arrest.

'I've dreamed of this day to actually stand up here and say we've arrested the man responsible for this crime.'

Brooks' sister, Maria, joined the conference by video and said she hoped Wilson's arrest will give hope to other victims of unsolved crimes.

'I know Robin is smiling and saying job well done,' she said.

Wilson is being held without bail at the Sacramento County jail on one charge of murder.