News

Serial rapist with cases dating back to 2005 receives life sentence
— Paul Wedding, WFAA, Aug 19, 2024

"A 52-year-old man found guilty of aggravated assault will spend the rest of his life in prison in the first Dallas County jury trial to use investigative genetic genealogy. The defendant, Christopher Michael Green, was charged in a 2005 cold case of raping a young mother at knifepoint. “We have been working this case with the Dallas Police Department since we started the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) almost a decade ago,” said lead prosecutor Leighton D’Antoni in a statement. “I remember long-time Dallas Police Department Sex Assaults Detective Todd Haecker telling me this was his ‘white whale.’ We exhausted every investigative tool without success until the DA’s Office and DPD began working with the FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force, which finally cracked this case.”

Michigan to partner with U.S. Marshals to extradite suspects in sexual assault cold cases
— Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News, Aug 14, 2024

"The state of Michigan is partnering with the U.S. Marshals Service to help with the extradition of individuals identified and charged in sexual assault cold cases in recent years. Operation Survivor Justice, believed to be the first such partnership in the country, received about $1 million from the Michigan Legislature in the July budget to help pay for the extraditions, which would usually have to be funded through cash-strapped county prosecutor offices."

Michigan man pleads guilty to 2010 sexual assault cold case at Western Michigan University
— Joseph Buczek, CBS New Detroit, Aug 13, 2024

"A Livonia man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a fellow student at Western Michigan University in January 2010. Cameron Alvarez, 34, was charged in 2022 for the sexual assault committed on the Kalamazoo campus. On Friday, Alvarez pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the Michigan Attorney General's Office said. "

Defendant gets 20 years in cold case homicide
— Odessa American, Aug 9, 2024

"A 62-year-old man indicted four years ago in connection with a 1982 murder entered a plea agreement Friday and was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections. According to the Odessa Police Department, Velma Nesset’s partially nude body was found in a drainage culvert along Tanglewood Lane on April 19, 1982 after she didn’t show up for work at what was then called the Permian Mall."

Suspect in Westover sexual assault from 24 years ago arrested in Connecticut
— Sam Kirk, 12WBOY, Aug 9, 2024

"DNA evidence and the combined effort of U.S. Marshals and law enforcement from multiple states led to a man accused of committing a sexual assault in Westover, West Virginia in 2000 to be arrested last month. In May 2000, a victim reported a sexual assault to the Westover Police Department, but a suspect was never identified, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service. However, in January 2021, authorities from California matched DNA evidence from a sexual assault case in Montana with evidence from the Westover case."

Big Spring man sentenced to 40 years in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault
— CBS7 Staff, Jul 29, 2024

"BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA) - This week a man escaped from a Big Spring Courtroom, was recaptured, and then found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison for each two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault he was charged with. Marces Morgan, 43, requested to defend himself in court. On Tuesday, July 23, the request was denied. According to our partners at KBEST Media, Morgan then ran out the back door of the courtroom, through downtown Big Spring, and was found hiding behind dumpsters located north of the Howard County Courthouse. He was recaptured by law enforcement and returned to the 118th District Courthouse for his trial. During the pursuit, a law enforcement officer was injured. He was then arrested and charged with Escape, causing Bodily Injury. On Wednesday, a jury found Morgan guilty of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault. On Thursday, the jury deliberated to determine his sentence, which was 40 years for each count, that will be served concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time. The jury took into account prior criminal history including, Failure to ID; Failure to ID, Fugitive; Providing False Information; Prostitution, and Possession of Marijuana."

CT man arrested by U.S. Marshals, Waterbury police 24 years after alleged sexual assault in West Virginia
— Dalton Zbierski, FOX61.com, Jul 23, 2024

"The Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department teamed up on Tuesday to arrest a man in Connecticut wanted for a sexual assault he allegedly committed in West Virginia in May 2000, according to a release from the U.S. Marshals Service. The case was part of the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which the release said is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. “The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative aims to create a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to sexual assault cases,” the release said."

Tyler man convicted of 2012 rape cold case sentenced to life in prison
— Zak Wellerman, CBS19.tv, Jul 23, 2024

"A Tyler man convicted of raping a woman in 2012 was sentenced to life in prison during a hearing Tuesday afternoon. Vincente Zavaleta, 45, who was initially named a suspect in three separate sexual assaults that happened in 2003, 2012 and 2016, was convicted in connection with the Dec. 11, 2012 sexual assault following a jury's verdict back in June."

Akron Man sentenced to life in prison for cold case rape
— Brian Koster, Cleveland19, Jul 12, 2024

"53-year-old Derrick Fischer of Akron, was sentenced to life in prison and designated a Tier III sex offender for a 2010 rape. “Derrick Fischer is a dangerous man with a violent history. My office will fight to keep him in prison for the rest of his life. Thank you to local law enforcement, the assistant prosecutors, and the survivor for their unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of justice in this case,” said Prosecutor Kolkovich. The Summit County prosecutors said the prosecution of Derrick Fisher was conducted as part of the Akron Police Department’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). The survivor was sexually assaulted in 2010 but at the time the investigation did not lead to a suspect. Evidence in the case was tested in 2017 with a DNA profile matching Derrick Fischer to the crime."

After 47 years, Yakima police identify a cold case homicide victim
— Johanna Bejarano, nwpb.org, Jul 8, 2024

"A cold case victim from nearly 50 years ago has been identified. The Yakima Police Department spoke about the case on July 2. “The application was completed and submitted to the Washington state attorney general’s office to receive a grant through a sexual assault kit initiative funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to fund the genetic genealogy process,” she said."