On October 20, 2013, the Oxford Police Department began investigating a sexual assault by an unknown perpetrator. In late 2020, investigators learned of a possible DNA match linking an individual to the sexual assault kit from 2013.
This individual was located in Indiana and investigators worked with the Indiana Department of Corrections to acquire a new DNA sample so another comparison could be done at the state crime lab.
Once the crime lab finished testing the new samples collected from Indiana, they confirmed that Jerry Owens (44 of Evansville, Indiana) was a positive match. The case was presented to the Lafayette County Grand Jury and Owens was subsequently arrested for rape on February 24th, 2021. He is currently being held without bond at the Lafayette County Detention Center.
Chief McCutchen would like to thank investigators for their efforts by continuing to work on a cold case and to provide answers.
“We are grateful for the impassioned pursuit to bring closure to this case and to the victim,” McCutchen said.
If you, or anybody you know, is a survivor of abuse, please reach out to the Oxford Police Department or the national R.A.I.N.N. hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
