ANCHORAGE — A cold-case attempted rape has been solved through DNA evidence, police said Wednesday.
Edward L. Newman, 25, has been charged with first-degree attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and third-degree assault in connection with a Oct. 19, 2006, attack on a woman who was leaving work.
Police say his DNA matched that of a sample collected at the scene of the crime three years ago, and his description matched the assailant's.
Back in 2006, police responded to the report of a carjacking at Karluk Street and Eighth Avenue about 6:15 p.m.
The 25-year-old victim told police she was leaving her job at an Alaska USA credit union branch when a man jumped in her car and drove off. He tried to sexually assault her in the vehicle but she was able to break free, jump out and run back to the bank for help, police said.
The attempted rapist ditched the car at 18th Avenue and Medfra Street and vanished, dodging police and dogs swarming the area, police said.
Police collected evidence, but with no suspect in sight the case was eventually suspended.
Then on June 30, the Combined DNA Identification System got a hit on Newman's DNA, police said. The case was reopened and investigated. The Special Victims Unit got a warrant for a new DNA sample from Newman, which matched, police said.
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