INDIANAPOLIS -- Cold case investigators may have solved a 20-year-old rape case thanks to DNA that was collected from the crime back scene back in 1998.
On September 2, 1998, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to the 8600 block of Rock Road for a violent rape. The victim gave the deputies a statement and evidence was collected at the scene but a suspect was never identified.
In December of 2015 - working with a cold case grant - investigators from the IMPD Cold Case Unit submitted paperwork for DNA testing on evidence from that 1998 rape case. Using science not available in 1998, the Indianapolis -Marion County Forensics Agency was able to pull DNA from the evidence collected at the scene after the crime.
That DNA led police to Donald Thomas, 54. After speaking with witnesses to the 1998 crime, detectives were able to get an arrest warrant for Thomas and he was arrested in Wisconsin with the assistance of the Hales Corners Police Department and The United States Marshals.
Thomas is currently awaiting extradition for the crime and faces multiple charges including rape with deadly force, rape with a deadly weapon and criminal deviate.
Investigators urge anyone with information on similar cases or any criminal activity to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
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