Man Pleads Guilty To 1991 Rapes In Arlington And Gets Life Sentence Plus 56 Years

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington County Circuit Court judge sentenced a 65-year-old Montross, Virginia man to life plus 56 years after he pleaded guilty Friday to his role in a series of cold case rapes dating back 1991.

Judge Louise DiMatteo sentenced Michael F. Thomson to life in prison on one count of rape and 50 years on a second count of rape, plus 10 years with eight suspend on one count of attempted rape. Thomson was also sentenced an additional two years each on two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of the rapes. His sentences will be served concurrently.

The Arlington County Police Department investigated multiple reports of rapes and attempted rapes throughout 1991 involving women walking from the East Falls Church Metro Station. In each reported case, the victims said they were approached by a man who showed a firearm. DNA evidence linked three of the cases and a fourth case is being investigated as part of the series because of similarities to the other attacks.

In 2017, ACPD's Cold Case Unit reviewed the crime scene evidence and laboratory results to take fresh look at the unsolved cases. The detectives resubmitted DNA evidence, including phenotyping and genetic genealogy. The results led them to Thomson as a possible suspect.

After conducting further investigative efforts combined with forensic evidence, detectives were able to link Thomson to the 1991 attacks. On Dec. 1, police took him into custody and formally charged him in the unsolved cases.

“Every member of our community should be able to safely walk home without fear of violent attacks like those committed by Michael Thomson,” said Chief Andy Penn, in a department release. “While nothing can fully restore his survivors’ sense of security, I hope this sentence serves as a powerful message that we will not waiver in our pursuit to hold sexual predators accountable for their actions. This case is another great example of the dedicated efforts of our Cold Case Unit to continue to use all available resources until the offender is brought to justice, no matter how much time has passed.”

Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti was grateful to the dedication of ACPD and the Cold Case Unit for providing her office the tools necessary to prosecute the case and bring closure to the victims' families.

“The survivors of Michael Thomson's crimes included a teenager and a young mother of two," she said, in a release. "Thirty years is a long time for them to wait for justice but I hope his sentencing brings them a measure of peace.”