Breaking News: Navy Diver Linked to Multiple Rape Cases Across Four States
A shocking revelation has come to light after a years-long investigation, linking a former Navy diver to a string of home invasion and rape cases across four states. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday that Sean Patrick McNulty, who died in 1997, has been connected to the crimes through DNA evidence.
The cold cases, which date back to the 1980s and 1990s, involved women being sexually assaulted by a home intruder. The perpetrator would often terrorize the victims, making threatening phone calls or warning them not to report the incidents to the authorities. The district attorney’s office has confirmed that McNulty’s DNA matches the evidence found in multiple cases.
Investigation and DNA Evidence
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau played a crucial role in the investigation, testing two rape kits collected in the county in 1982 and 1983. The DNA profiles were uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a database managed by the FBI. In March 2024, investigators discovered a match between the DNA from the two cases, leading them to suspect that the same perpetrator was responsible for the crimes.
Joint Investigation and Genealogist’s Research
The DNA evidence also matched rapes in Michigan (1994 and 1995) and Ohio (1997). Although McNulty was not initially suspected in these cases, a joint investigation was launched after Ventura County investigators reached out to law enforcement in Michigan and Ohio. An investigative genealogist from the Columbus Police Department played a crucial role in identifying McNulty as a potential suspect.
Since McNulty’s body had been cremated, investigators were unable to obtain a DNA sample from his remains. However, they found records from a 1997 Indiana rape case, where McNulty had been named a suspect. A biological sample collected from McNulty during that investigation was compared to the DNA evidence from the other cases, confirming a match.
Victim Notification and Ongoing Investigation
Police have been working to contact McNulty’s victims and notify them of his identification and death. So far, only one victim has been located, and she expressed relief, stating that she had “waited 40 years” for closure. Another victim, from the 1997 Indiana case, expressed gratitude that investigators “didn’t give up” on the case.
McNulty’s background reveals that he was born in Burlingame, California, and spent most of his life in Ventura County. He served as a diver in the Navy from 1979 to 1992 and was married in 1988 before divorcing his wife prior to his death. The district attorney’s office is continuing to investigate other potential crimes committed by McNulty.
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