Missouri man arrested in sexual assault case of 20-year-old in Hillsborough County

TAMPA, Fla. – After more than 20 years, unsolved case investigators say they have arrested a Missouri man for some time now. sexual assault This happened in 2000.

Hillsborough County Walter Leon Rutherford, 59, was arrested on two counts of sexual assault, the Sheriff’s Office said. He is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who agreed to buy a car from him on March 7, 2000, near Browder Road and Henderson Road in the Citrus Park area.

Detectives said they collected DNA evidence from the victim to help catch the unknown suspect. But sheriff’s office officials said they have “exhausted” all leads and are treating this as an unsolved case.

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The case was later reopened in 2022 by HCSO’s special victims division under the “Prosecution of Cold Cases Using DNA” grant. Investigators said they used advanced forensic genealogy to develop a family tree on the suspect.

HCSO detectives requested and received a sample of Rutherford’s DNA from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri. When Rutherford’s DNA was compared, it was found to match DNA collected from the scene in 2000, according to authorities.

Rutherford was arrested and is currently being held at the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County, deputies said.

“This case is a powerful reminder that time does not diminish our commitment to justice,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our Special Victims Division, with the help of modern technology, brought closure to a victim who had been waiting for answers for over 20 years. We hope this will bring comfort and peace to the victim as he continues to recover.”

with HCSO’s special victims division to resolve the case. Florida Police Department (FDLE) and Parabon Nanolabs.

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