Marion County Sheriff's Office have made an arrest in cold rape case from 2009 after finding a positive DNA match.
- MCSO detectives find positive match in cold rape case
- Active U.S. Army member Timothy Damon Epps identified as suspect
- Epps reportedly lived less than 2 miles from victim in 2009
Timothy Damon Epps, an active duty U.S. Army member stationed at Fort Eustis in Virginia, was arrested on a Marion County warrant, according to an MCSO news release. He has been charged with sexual battery with a deadly weapon, burglary with battery, and impersonating a police officer.
Epps recently provided his DNA during a criminal investigation conducted by the military, which was placed into the national CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) database.
MCSO Major Crimes Detective Daniel Pinder was notified on Oct. 25 that Epps' DNA matched samples from the 2009 rape case.
The 67-year-old victim in the cold case reported that on June 30, 2009, an unknown man impersonated a police officer, forced his way into her home, tied her down, and then raped her. He then stole $50 from her and left the scene, authorites said.
According to the release, Det. Pinder also found that in 2009 time Epps lived less than 2 miles from the victim. A 2009 photo of Epps also showed that his features were similar to what the victim described.
Epps has been transported back to Ocala and is being held in the Marion County Jail on $77,000 bond.