DNA links a Missouri man to the sexual assault case of a 24-year-old Tampa woman

TAMPA, Fla. (CBS12) — After 24 years of unanswered questions, a cold sexual assault case in Tampa has led to the arrest of a 59-year-old Missouri man.

“Our Special Victims Section, using modern technology, helped a victim who had been waiting for answers for over 20 years. We hope this will provide the victim with comfort and peace of mind as he recovers,” said Sheriff Chad Kronikarz.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) stated that on March 7, 2000, deputies responded to a report of a woman who had suffered sexual assault after accepting a ride from a stranger.

After the investigation was initiated, DNA evidence was collected and all leads were exhausted, and the case was apparently discontinued.

HCSO said the Special Victims Section reopened the case in 2022 using a DNA grant and other resources.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement funded genetic genealogy research, which resulted in detectives creating a family tree related to the suspect.

The services reported that in August, detectives identified 59-year-old Walter Leon Rutherford Jr. as a potential suspect.

Rutherford Jr. Investigation revealed that although he had lived in Missouri since 2007, he had ties to Tampa in 2000.

HCSO noted that it worked with the Stone County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office to obtain a DNA sample from Rutherford Jr.

In September, detectives compared Rutherford Jr.’s current DNA sample, according to the report. with that taken at the crime scene 24 years ago and confirmed that they were consistent.

Rutherford Jr. he was arrested on October 28 and charged with two counts of sexual battery.

Find more ways to stay up to date with the latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day’s top headlines straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and the video must not be missing.