PHOENIX, AZ (March 2, 2011) – Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery today announced the indictment of Wylie McCarty (DOB 9/28/81) in connection with three previously unsolved sex crimes that took place in 1996 and 1997. McCarty was identified by Phoenix Police Department Cold Case Detectives who were able to match his DNA with profiles stored in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). A Grand Jury has charged McCarty with four counts of sexual assault, two counts of kidnapping and one count of child molestation, all of which are Class 2 felony crimes.
“I commend the Phoenix Police for their tireless efforts to solve these horrible crimes,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, whose office will now prosecute McCarty. “This is a prime example of our close cooperation with law enforcement and reflects our shared commitment to use every available tool to pursue justice in each and every case, no matter how long it takes.” he added.
The first incident occurred on December 3rd, 1996 when a 16 year-old female was attacked and raped by an unknown male while she was walking home through a football field at South Mountain High School. The second incident occurred on March 11, 1997 and involved a 19 year-old victim who was physically assaulted and raped while she was on duty as a security guard at an apartment complex in Central Phoenix. In the third incident, on December 16, 1997, Police were called to McCarty’s mother’s home, where he was living at the time along with his 4 year-old step sister. His mother alleged that McCarty had sexual contact with his step sister, which he denied. McCarty was not arrested and there was no follow up investigation at the time.
DNA evidence collected at all three crime scenes was subsequently entered into the CODIS database after it became fully operational in 1998. In 2003, analysis revealed a link between the first two incidents, and in 2007 a match with McCarty was made using a DNA sample he later provided while serving time in prison on unrelated charges. When interviewed, McCarty denied any connection to the crimes. Phoenix Police then collected a confirmation sample and analyzed it along with the victim’s sex kit from the December 1997 incident. Results confirming McCarty’s link to all three crimes were not available until shortly after McCarty’s release in November 2010. His whereabouts were unknown until earlier this month and he was arrested and charged with all three crimes. He faces a possible prison sentence of up to 105 years if convicted on all counts.
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