A 1990s Rape Kit Helps Find Suspect Of A Cold Case (Double Murder) Using DNA In 2024
In a stunning development, a decades-old rape kit has emerged as the key to solving a chilling double murder case that has haunted a Georgia community for over three decades.
Back in 1990, Pamela Sumpter, 43, and her brother John Sumpter, 46, were brutally attacked in their Stone Mountain apartment, just outside Atlanta. The assailant, Kenneth Perry, 55, whom John had apparently brought home, fatally stabbed both siblings. Pamela, though critically injured, managed to survive long enough to describe Perry to authorities before succumbing to her injuries weeks later.
Medical officials, during Pamela's hospitalization, collected crucial evidence — a rape kit containing the attacker's DNA. Despite efforts by law enforcement, the case eventually went cold, leaving the Sumpter family and the community without closure.
Fast forward to this year, when advancements in forensic technology and a relentless pursuit of justice through the Detroit Sexual Assault Kit Project breathed new life into Pamela's case. A sample from her rape kit matched DNA from an unrelated sexual assault in Michigan in 1992, where Perry had been identified but not prosecuted due to insufficient evidence at the time.
The breakthrough came when genetic genealogy linked the DNA from Pamela's rape kit to a familial network that included Perry. Armed with this evidence, authorities moved swiftly. On June 20, 2024, Perry was arrested and indicted on charges including malice murder, aggravated assault, and rape.
The case underscores the importance of not only preserving forensic evidence but also leveraging technological advancements to revisit cold cases. Perry, who is currently held without bond at DeKalb County Jail, awaits trial as the judicial process unfolds.
This dramatic turn of events serves as a testament to the perseverance of law enforcement and the enduring hope of families seeking closure. While questions remain about the initial handling of Perry's earlier case in Michigan, Pamela and John's story stands as a beacon of justice delayed but ultimately found.
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