Crime & Safety

DNA Sample Sought in San Bruno Homicide

San Mateo parolee among two men facing trial in slaying of Christopher Chastain.

A judge on Tuesday granted a request from the district attorney's office to have Nicholas Vargas — one of the two men, along with San Mateo resident , charged with killing 23-year-old Christopher Chastain — provide a DNA sample as part of the homicide case against them.

Richard Keyes, the defense attorney for Thompson, asked for the same DNA sample. But San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Richard Livermore denied Keyes' request.

Now, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, prosecutors are looking into testing Vargas' blood to compare it with blood found at the scene of the April 10 slaying, which authorities say took place after an argument at Vargas' parents' house on Cypress Avenue.

Find out what's happening in San Mateofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Both Vargas and Thompson, who was on parole for car theft, remain in San Mateo County Jail without bail.

They are expected to be back in court on July 12 to set a date for the preliminary hearing.

Find out what's happening in San Mateofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.