DNA analysis has helped police pinpoint and charge a suspect in a 21-year-old sexual assault cold case from Janesville, according to court documents filed Friday.
John E.W. Carter, 61, of Wisconsin Rapids was charged Friday with two counts of first-degree sexual assault by threat of use of a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from a December 1999 incident in which police say Carter followed a 16-year-old girl to her car in the Janesville Mall parking lot and assaulted her in the car.
The state Department of Criminal Investigation in March informed Janesville police that the Janesville assault was linked to a similar incident at the Fox Valley Mall in early 2000 and that the Grand Chute Police Department had developed a suspect through familial DNA, according to a criminal complaint.
By Rob Sussman
Apr 19, 2021 2:31 PM
GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) Grand Chute Police say a suspect in a cold case sexual assault and kidnapping has been arrested more than 21 years after the crime was committed.
John E.W. Carter, 51, was arrested in Wisconsin Rapids on Friday. Police say Carter is the man responsible for the February 12th, 2000 kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl inside of the Younkers store where she worked at the Fox River Mall. Carter had approached the girl after she got off work with a handgun, forced her into the passenger seat of her car, and drove her to a nearby location where he sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, the suspect fled on foot.
The suspect waited outside for the girl to leave the store, then walked to her vehicle in the parking lot, confronted her with a handgun and told her to get in the passenger seat, police said. The suspect got in the vehicle, drove to a nearby location and sexually assaulted her.
The suspect fled on foot after the incident and, despite an investigation at the time, was not identified.
In April 2000, investigators learned the incident was linked by DNA evidence to another sexual assault that took place in Janesville in 1999. In September 2019, a detective was assigned to further investigate the incident, which eventually led to the identification of Carter as the suspect.
By Rob Sussman
Apr 19, 2021 2:31 PM
GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) â Grand Chute Police say a suspect in a cold case sexual assault and kidnapping has been arrested more than 21 years after the crime was committed.
John E.W. Carter, 51, was arrested in Wisconsin Rapids on Friday. Police say Carter is the man responsible for the February 12th, 2000 kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl inside of the Younkers store where she worked at the Fox River Mall. Carter had approached the girl after she got off work with a handgun, forced her into the passenger seat of her car, and drove her to a nearby location where he sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, the suspect fled on foot.
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