Dedham Man Guilty Of 2004 Rape, Kidnapping

DEDHAM, MA — A Dedham man charged with kidnapping and raping a woman has been found guilty on all counts.

A Suffolk County Superior Court jury found Dwayne McNair, 36, eight counts of aggravated rape and two counts of armed robbery, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

“We left no stone unturned in the 13-year history of this case,” Conley said. “When we heard of cutting-edge DNA testing that could distinguish between identical twins, we utilized it. Although a judge ruled the results were not admissible, they only strengthened our commitment to bring the case to trial. We were deeply gratified that the jury recognized the defendant’s guilt even without that powerful evidence, and I hope they recognize that their verdicts took a dangerous sexual predator off of Boston’s streets.”

The conviction is the second in the case. Anwar Thomas, 35, pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2012. McNair's case was complicated by the fact that he has an identical twin brother. Thomas testified that he could tell the difference between the two.

Prosecutors alleged that on Sept. 21, 2004, McNair and Thomas abducted a woman who was walking alone in the area of Forest Hills at gunpoint, and subsequently pistol-whipped her before driving her to a remote location where they allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed her. On Sept. 29, the two allegedly abducted another woman walking alone at night in the area of Parker and Hillside streets in Roxbury, where they allegedly forced her into a vehicle, struck her several times in the face with a gun and sexually assaulted her, while also stealing her cell phone, wallet and ID, according to the DA's office.

The victim of the second attack took a condom one of the men had used and discarded, from which Boston police were able to retrieve DNA, which later implicated McNair. At the time of the investigation, available DNA testing could not differentiate between McNair and his twin brother, and police and prosecutors subsequently secured additional evidence and testimony showing that McNair was the one who allegedly took part in the attacks, the DA's office said.

Jurors did not hear testimony on a DNA test that, according to experts, showed that McNair was two billions times more likely to be the source of the crime scene DNA than his brother.

“We left no stone unturned in the 13-year history of this case,” District Attorney Dan Conley said in a release. “When we heard of cutting-edge DNA testing that could distinguish between identical twins, we utilized it. Although a judge ruled the results were not admissible, they only strengthened our commitment to bring the case to trial. We were deeply gratified that the jury recognized the defendant’s guilt even without that powerful evidence, and I hope they recognize that their verdicts took a dangerous sexual predator off of Boston’s streets.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Reporting from Matt Perkins was used in this story.

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