A suspect has finally been arrested for the rape of a paralyzed woman during a home invasion more than twenty years ago.
Michael Lamonte Evans, a 50-year-old Los Angeles man, was charged with forcible rape following the attack on the unnamed woman in December 2000, Concord police announced Wednesday.
According to authorities, Evans allegedly broke into the 24-year-old woman's San Francisco apartment in the early hours of December 6, 2000 and “violently assaulted” her.
The victim, who was paralyzed from the neck down, was asleep at the time and was home alone, police said East Bay Times.
For almost 24 years, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been named. The victim later died, police said.
Now the police have finally announced a breakthrough in the case.
Concord police said investigators recently obtained a match to DNA left at the scene, identifying Evans as the suspect.
An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained for Evans, who was already in custody in LA County on unrelated charges.
According to East Bay Timeshe has been arrested and convicted numerous times for indecent exposure due to an incident after the 2000 attack – which meant he had to register as a sex offender.
He was arrested in October for violating his parole in LA, the outlet reported.
Evans now faces extradition to Contra Costa County, where he faces charges in the 2000 attack.
His bail has been set at $1 million.
Concord Police said, “We are deeply saddened that the victim in this case passed away several years ago.
“We express our gratitude to her friends and family, whose support and assistance was extremely important in this investigation.”
