The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Sexual Assault Unit was receiving a growing number of DNA hits on old cases coming from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database that stores DNA profiles from convicted offenders and evidence from other violent and non-violent crimes. In January 2006, the Cold Case Unit was formed to further investigate these cases.

The Unit's two detectives review older cases to uncover new leads that may point them to the identity of the perpetrator. 

A key part of the work involves examining evidence that may be submitted to the crime laboratory for processing using updated technology. They also review victim and witness statements and, when possible, re-interview people.

Cold Case Unit Stats as of December 2007:

Cases Reviewed     200

Cases Cleared         42

Arrests Made           22 (including 7 serial rapists)

Pending                   24 cases currently pending in court

Click here to read about Open Cases. If you have any information about these or other sexual assault cold cases, please contact:

Det. Troy Armstrong                   704.353.1744 (cold cases)

Det. Marsha Dearing                  704.336.4902 (cold cases)


Cases Cleared -- The cases highlighted below are some of the ones the Unit has cleared:

CAPTURED

Quinton McCoy Green
Black Male
DOB:
In April, 2001 the suspect and an unknown accomplice approached two pedestrians and forced them behind a building off South Blvd. After robbing both victims, the suspects sexually assaulted the female victim.  DNA from collected evidence was processed by CMPD Crime Laboratory. The results were entered into CODIS. The database matched the DNA to Green, who was already in the custody of NC Department of Corrections for armed robbery. Upon his release on December 5, 2006, members of CMPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team were standing by to serve outstanding warrants and take Green into custody.

CAPTURED

Donald Pruitt
Black Male
DOB: 02/19/1961
On January 31, 2008, Donald Pruitt pled guilty to five counts of Second Degree Rape and five counts of First Degree Burglary for offenses he committed against 5 women between 1989 to 1991. He was sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison.

 

 

CAPTURED

Michael Shmaruk
White Male
DOB:  7/21/1975
The suspect entered an apartment on Cedar Trail Lane in July 1995 and confronted the victim inside. He verbally threatened the victim and then assaulted her. Shmaruk was arrested May 8, 2006. He is a registed sex offender in Iredell County.

 

CAPTURED

William Darryl Lippard
White Male
DOB:  02/23/1954
On the morning of January 28, 1987, the suspect approached the victim and her child in a shopping mall parking lot.  He was armed with a handgun and forced the victim into her vehicle. He drove her to another location and sexually assualted her in the presence of her child. The Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit reviewed the case. Physical evidence was processed by the CMPD Crime Laboratory and the results matched to this sex offender. Warrants were issued for Lippard's arrest. With the assistance of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, William Lippard was taken into custody without incident on November 8, 2006.

CAPTURED

Terrance Clovis
Black Male
DOB:  07/23/1960
In December 1997, the suspect forced his way into a residence on Myers Street, pushed the elderly victim into her bedroom and then assaulted her. The suspect fled after the assault, but returned a short time later and attemped to assault her again. The second attack was heard by neighbors who confronted the suspect.

Clovis was arrested July 13, 2006 in Palm Springs, California, with the assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the Palm Springs Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the area FBI office.

CAPTURED

Nathaniel Gillespie Jr.
Black Male
DOB: 9/9/1969
On February 8, 2008. CMPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested Gillespie on outstanding warrants in two cases -- one from August 15, 1999 and one from June 22, 1997. Both victims were walking in the early morning hours when the suspect approached and physically and sexually assaulted them. In the 1999 case, the suspect threatened the victim with a gun. Neither victim knew the suspect.

Detectives linked the cases in 2002 and were able to match the evidence to Gillespie in 2008.

Click here for information about Serial cases.