Ayala was held without bail pending trial. If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“This indictment demonstrates that justice has no expiration date. Through the relentless dedication of our retired and active law enforcement officers, coupled with advances in forensic technology, we were able to charge this defendant for the brutal murder of Edna Schubert which has haunted Suffolk County for over two decades,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
“I thank the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Section, Identification Section, and the Suffolk County Crime Lab for their hard work in getting us closer to bringing her alleged killer to justice.”