FIFTH JOHN DOE RAPE CASE INDICTED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY

Posted on 12/21/2015

Defendant: John Doe WH 8/2/97

FIFTH JOHN DOE RAPE CASE INDICTED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY

December 21, 2015

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

            Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has indicted the fifth John Doe rape case in Franklin County stemming from an offense that took place in 1997.  The case was indicted under the name of “John Doe” to avoid the expiration of the statute of limitations.  John Doe WH 8/2/97 has been indicted for one count Aggravated Burglary with Specification (F-1), one count Aggravated Robbery with Specification (F-1), one count Kidnapping with Specification (F-1), and two counts Rape with Specification (F-1), for a total of five counts.

            On August 2, 1997, the 41 year old victim at the time, was awakened by a man pointing a gun at her head, who then proceeded to rob and rape her.  Her sexual assault exam kit was preserved for later testing.  In May 2015, due to advances in scientific testing, her sexual assault kit was submitted to BCI for testing.  A DNA profile was obtained, but a match to a known suspect has not been made.  “In order to preserve our ability to prosecute this case due to a 25-year statute of limitations, we are indicting that DNA profile now.  When the rapist is identified the indictment will be amended to reflect his true name,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien said that Ohio courts have upheld the use of John Doe indictments and that the DNA technology with creative legal approaches permit the prosecution of criminals who might have in the past escaped justice.