December 13, 2021 |
In a cold case dating back to 1995, Carbon County Law Enforcement got their man, but he died before being brought to justice.
The case dates back to July 23, 1995, when a man armed with a rifle sexually assaulted two local residents who were camping at South Spring Creek Reservoir. The man fled the scene after locking the two in the trunk of their vehicle. They escaped and walked 10 miles to safety. Evidence was collected, leads were generated but the case went cold, according to a news release from the Carbon County Attorney dated December 10th.
In 2018, the sheriff’s office submitted the evidence that was collected at the time of the assault to the Wyoming state crime laboratory in hopes that new technology, including DNA testing might produce new leads.
It did. In August of this year, the investigation focused on a man living in Missouri. Agents interviewed the man, who confirmed he was in Carbon County at the time of the assault. A DNA sample was taken. Forensic analysts at the Division of Criminal Investigation identified a match with the DNA collected at the scene.
According to County Attorney Ashley Mayfield Davis, the Missouri man died from an existing illness before criminal charges could be filed.
State law prohibits the release of the suspect’s name until an indictment or other information is filed in district court. It is unclear if that will happen in this case. DCI agents did meet with the victims and updated them on the investigation.
Pictured above: File photo of the Carbon County Courthouse. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
