The testing of rape kits has helped bring a cold case to court after nearly 20 years.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office received a $1 million federal grant last year for a cold case rape kit unit that has so far helped identify 156 rape suspects, DA’s Office spokesman Chris Hopper said in a news release.
One of those suspects is convicted serial rapist Cleophus Ward, 38, who is now facing a new rape and kidnapping indictment in a case that dates to 2000, Hopper said. Ward allegedly raped and kidnapped a 19-year-old Spelman College student, Hopper said.
“I am proud to say that the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Kit Initiative is fully living up to the mission set out by the (U.S. Department of Justice),” District Attorney Paul Howard said in the release.
The 2000 incident happened off campus as the victim was heading to a MARTA station. She mistakenly got into Ward’s car, believing it was her friend in the car, Hopper said. She immediately realized what had happened and demanded to be let out. However, Ward drove away, the release said.
Ward stopped at a cul-de-sac and raped the victim, according to the release. Afterward, Ward continued to drive but eventually let the victim out of the car, Hopper said.
The victim underwent a sexual assault examination the next day at Grady Memorial Hospital.
That rape kit didn’t make it into the hands of the GBI until November 2015, according to the release. That’s because there had not been an agreement between the hospital and the DA’s office allowing for the submission of rape kits to the GBI.
Almost three years later, DNA testing found that Ward was a match in the case, according to Hopper.
An interview with the victim was done in preparation for the indictment presented on Aug. 20, the release said.
“The survivor in this case is an extraordinarily strong woman who believed that justice would never come. However, this indictment is an incredible relief to her and her family as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office continues to seek justice on her behalf,” Senior Assistant District Attorney Julianna Peterson said.
In 2004, Ward pleaded guilty to raping three women. He was also charged with aggravated sodomy, kidnapping, sexual battery, false imprisonment, armed robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the release.
Ward typically targeted women who were walking or standing along the street and would offer them a ride, according to Hopper.
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Ward was released from prison in May 2017. He was allowed to serve the rest of his sentence on probation, AJC.com previously reported.
He was arrested again five months later after trying to sneak into an Atlanta home.
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Ward pleaded guilty July 31 to theft by taking, obstruction, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, theft by taking and attempting to elude a police officer, according to Hopper.
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