Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993 TAG: 9308220029
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
"If it's a serial rapist, that's a benefit to us. If we clear one, we clear them all," Lt. Wray Boswell said Friday. "It's psychological, but it makes people more afraid when, in fact, it should be just the opposite. Five rapists running around is a lot scarier to me than just one."
Police believe at least five rapes since January may be linked to the same man. In all five, the man attacked the woman from behind, and he stole something. All the victims worked night shifts.
All but one of the five rapes happened at night or early morning, and the rapist either used or said he had a knife. Three of the five rapes were in the victim's home.
"We're reviewing which cases may benefit from DNA testing," Wray said. "If they can match the samples, they can tell us if the same person is responsible."
Even when traditional methods don't link rapes, DNA can. "You could have a single rapist who leaves absolutely nothing in common from one case to another except his semen," Boswell said.
When physical evidence such as semen is left at the crime scene, DNA profiling can be done. Typically, investigators send evidence from the victim or clothing to the Norfolk forensic lab.
Serologists first isolate the evidence, which can take one to four months. Then, preliminary DNA results can be completed in just a few weeks. More definitive profiles take about six to eight weeks.
Once the evidence is profiled for DNA, it will be compared to DNA profiles or "fingerprints" from 1,400 convicted sex offenders in a state data bank. If the rapist has been convicted of rape before, scientists might find a match.
The earliest rape occurred on Jan. 10; the latest, Aug. 14. The suspect is described as being in his late teens to early 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, medium build with short black hair.
by CNB