A 42-year-old man was behind bars in Wisconsin Tuesday charged in connection with a rape that happened in 1997 in a wooded area near Daytona Beach.
“Without DNA technology, we wouldn’t be where we are today in the case,” Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Thoman said.
>> Read more trending news
Robert Haar is one of three men believed to be involved in the rape, which involved a then-14-year-old girl.
Though decades have passed, the victim in the case was pushing for Haar to be prosecuted.
“Obviously, she was very emotional,” Thoman said. “She did recall the incident very well, although it had been 20 years. She recalled the incident very well at the time and definitely (was) willing to pursue the case.”
Testing the rape kit in the case years ago would not have been much help, unfortunately, because Haar was not entered into the national DNA database until last year when he was arrested in Wisconsin on a domestic abuse charge, Thoman said.
He is currently awaiting extradition to Florida for prosecution in the 1997 rape case.
Investigators have identified two other suspects in the case, but are still working to obtain DNA evidence from them.
About the Author
