Crime & Safety

DNA Evidence Leads to Conviction in 2004 Rape Case

A 28-year-old Harford County man was convicted in the 2004 assault of an Edgewood woman.

DNA evidence has led to the conviction of a Harford County man in the rape of an Edgewood woman nine years ago.

A Harford County Circuit Court convicted Deandre Eugene Wilson, 28, of two counts of rape and one count of first-degree burglary, according to a release from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. 

The charges stem from an incident on July 14, 2004 when a 33-year-old Edgewood woman reported she was awakened around 3 a.m. by a man who was on top of her. 

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Police said Wilson broke into the home where he threatened the victim and then both physically and sexually assaulted her. 

Detectives pursued the investigation, but were unable to identify any suspects at the time, according to a release.

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In 2011, detectives were reviewing several cold case investigations and identified forensic evidence in the case that could be submitted for DNA analysis and comparison. 

On Feb. 17, 2012, detectives were notified that the FBI's Combined DNA Index System had identified a match between the suspect, Wilson, and the evidence, according to police.

At that time, Wilson was incarcerated in the Raybrook Federal Correctional Institute in Raybrook, NY, for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 

Lab results with new DNA samples from Wilson were returned in late August 2012, confirming the match between Wilson and the recovered evidence, according to a release. Wilson was charged with the rape and sexual assault on Sept. 17, 2012, and was found guilty in late September.

Wilson is currently being held in the Harford County Detention Center awaiting his sentencing hearing, scheduled for Jan. 21, 2014.

 


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