CLEBURNE, TX -
Cleburne police say they have a cracked a cold rape case from more than a decade ago using DNA. Police arrested a 53-year old Bosque County man for the sexual assault of a 13-year old girl, who was abducted while on her way to school. Dennis Griffith is charged with aggravated sexual assault.
Many people living in the tiny town of Morgan, where Griffith delivered newspapers, were stunned to learn of his arrest. "He just didn't seem like the type", said Pam Canova who saw Griffith almost every day at a convenience store.
Investigators say they had all but given up hope of finding the assailant who committed the bold crime in September 1999. The 7th grader was walking to a bus stop when she was grabbed, beaten, sexually assaulted and then dumped at a rural cemetery. "We had 500 leads called into us and no one matched the suspect", says Sergeant Amy Knoll.
Knoll along with Cleburne Police Chief, T.D. Powell were among the original investigators on the rape case. The victim provided them with a good sketch, but the suspect still remained on the run. "We had the FBI, Houston Police and the Texas Rangers review the case, but there was nothing to be found", said Chief Powell.
Police authorities say they were elated when a national data base matched DNA collected at the crime scene with Griffith's. Griffith was put into the system after police say he was arrested on a drug charge and sent to a federal prison.
The now 23-year old rape survivor, who lives in the Metroplex, got the news last week that her alleged attacker had been caught. "I don't think she could be happier if she won the lottery", said Powell.
Police say they arrested Griffith at his home where he was living with a 17-year old female roommate. Investigators say they want to know if there might be more victims. Griffith remains jailed on $250,000 bond in Johnson County.
Many people living in the tiny town of Morgan, where Griffith delivered newspapers, were stunned to learn of his arrest. "He just didn't seem like the type", said Pam Canova who saw Griffith almost every day at a convenience store.
Investigators say they had all but given up hope of finding the assailant who committed the bold crime in September 1999. The 7th grader was walking to a bus stop when she was grabbed, beaten, sexually assaulted and then dumped at a rural cemetery. "We had 500 leads called into us and no one matched the suspect", says Sergeant Amy Knoll.
Knoll along with Cleburne Police Chief, T.D. Powell were among the original investigators on the rape case. The victim provided them with a good sketch, but the suspect still remained on the run. "We had the FBI, Houston Police and the Texas Rangers review the case, but there was nothing to be found", said Chief Powell.
Police authorities say they were elated when a national data base matched DNA collected at the crime scene with Griffith's. Griffith was put into the system after police say he was arrested on a drug charge and sent to a federal prison.
The now 23-year old rape survivor, who lives in the Metroplex, got the news last week that her alleged attacker had been caught. "I don't think she could be happier if she won the lottery", said Powell.
Police say they arrested Griffith at his home where he was living with a 17-year old female roommate. Investigators say they want to know if there might be more victims. Griffith remains jailed on $250,000 bond in Johnson County.
