FL Man Charged 35 Years After Virginia Rape Thanks To DNA: Police

PALATKA, FL — Advancements in DNA testing led to the arrest of a Putnam County, Florida, man last week in a case involving the 1987 rape of a gas station clerk in Woodbridge, police said.

Authorities identified the suspect as a 52-year-old man from Palatka, Florida. He is charged with rape and abduction with intent to defile. His court date is pending and he is awaiting extradition to Virginia.

The Prince William County Police Department in Virginia has not identified the suspect because he was a minor in 1987, when the rape occurred.

On Dec. 19, 1987, police officers responded to a gas station at 13452 Jefferson Davis Highway in Woodbridge to investigate a reported rape. Authorities said the victim was working as a cashier when she went to use the bathroom.

The suspect followed her into the bathroom, tied her up, and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint, according to the police report. The suspect fled after the rape, and police officers were unable to find him.

In 2021, there was finally a lead in the investigation after it was transferred to the cold case unit, authorities said.

"The investigation was reviewed, and new investigative leads were followed through advancements in DNA/genealogical testing and research," the Prince William County Police Department said in a report. "Through a private lab, DNA was retested, and a profile was recently recovered leading to a family now residing in Florida."

During the investigation, authorities obtained new DNA samples from possible matches and compared them to evidence recovered from the scene of the rape.

"Ultimately, a suspect was developed and confirmed through advancements in forensic methods," the police department said.

Investigators noted that the suspect lived nearby the gas station in 1987. The suspect was arrested on June 14 in Putnam County, Florida.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center can provide information about reporting and coping with sexual abuse. Their website also features training materials and tips to prevent sexual abuse. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network operates a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.