TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Police: DNA Links St. Pete Man To 2 Rape Cases

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: August 15, 2008

Using new DNA evidence, police arrested a St. Petersburg man Wednesday in connection with the beating and rape of two prostitutes, one in 1999 and the other in 2001.

Terrell Gerald Hughes, 45, of 2107 Walton St. S., was arrested at his home and booked into Pinellas County Jail.

Investigators matched DNA from the cases with a sample obtained from Hughes in connection with his conviction in February for dealing in stolen property.

St. Petersburg police said they learned July 29 that the match had been made using CODIS, a computer software program that operates databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence and missing people.

Police said in a news release that they suspected the same assailant committed the two attacks and three other rapes during a two-year period that ended in 2001. The release did not indicate whether Hughes is a suspect in the other three cases.

In both cases Hughes is charged in, women who admitted they were prostitutes were picked up just before 7 a.m., taken to a secluded area, beaten and raped, then driven to another location and dropped off, police said.

The first attack was Jan. 16, 1999, in the 2900 block of 20th Avenue North. The victim was 28.

The second attack was May 30, 2001. The victim, who was 43, was picked up at 54th Avenue North and 34th Street North and driven to a secluded area near 2390 26th Avenue North.

The dates and times of the other three cases, police said, are 1 a.m. Jan. 30, 1999; 11 p.m. March 5, 1999; and 2 a.m. Sept. 10, 2000.

At the time, investigators thought all five cases were connected to one suspect, based on the victims, the descriptions of the attacker and the manner of the crimes.

Share this:

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT