Man Charged In 2017 Gunpoint Rape In Norristown Farm Park: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — A two-year long hunt has resulted in the arrest of a man authorities say raped a young woman jogging in Norristown Farm Park at gunpoint in broad daylight, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday. It's the result of "thousands of hours of old-fashioned police work," DA Kevin Steele said.

Mason Alexander Hall, 19, of West Norriton, faces numerous charges for the incident, which occurred back on Aug. 1, 2017, when Hall was 17.

The case received widespread attention for the vast manhunt that ensued, and it shook nearby residents not accustomed to violent crime in that typically safe, quiet section of the park.

Because the suspect had a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt on and approached the victim, a 19-year-old woman, from behind, there was limited descriptive information for investigators to go upon. An extensive search of the area following the attack came up empty.

>>Norristown Farm Park Sexual Assault Was In High-Traffic Area

In the two years since, a $10,000 reward posted for information leading to the capture of a suspect, and authorities utilized an advanced science called DNA phenotyping to create a composite image of what they believed the suspect looked like. That image was released to the public in Jan. 2018, and though it resulted in many tips, none led investigators to Hall.

Investigators were ultimately able to link Hall to the crime by using DNA from the scene of the crime to identify distant relatives. Many of those relatives were interviewed, and with the help of the FBI, local authorities narrowed their suspects down to just two men; one of them was ruled out based on description from the victim.

On Oct. 18, Hall was arrested at his home. He's been charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of an instrument of crime, and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Bail has been set at $1 million, and Hall was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 25.