Man sentenced to life in prison for 2006 rape in Atlanta

A man recently found guilty in a Fulton County court of rape and aggravated assault was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

David Hinkle, 33, was indicted in December in connection with the 2006 death of an Atlanta woman and the rape of another, according to a news release from the office of Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr.

According to police, DNA was gathered from the scene of a murder in August 2006 and a rape in the same area earlier that year. The DNA from the two scenes matched, but police had no leads or suspects and the surviving rape victim could not identify her attacker, so both cases went cold, the release says.

In 2009, Hinkle was arrested in an unrelated case. His DNA was placed into a database and authorities were able to link him with the earlier crimes, authorities said.

Hinkle was found guilty March 21 on rape, aggravated assault and murder charges, but the jury hung on a murder charge, according to the D.A.'s office. He was sentenced by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk to life plus 20 years.

About the Author

Michelle E Shaw

Health care provider bankruptcy may stick rural Georgia with state prisoners’ medical bills

Public ambulance services and hospitals are owed $75 million from the now-bankrupt Wellpath. Some want the state to reimburse them.

3 of 4 U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead

Three of four U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead. The soldiers had been stationed at Georgia's Fort Stewart.

Georgia prison homicides soar as lawmakers focus on fixes

January is off to a bloody start in Georgia prisons after setting a new record for homicides last year.

The Latest

Credit: Ben Gray/AP

A.M. ATL: More pain at the CDC

2h ago

A.M. ATL: To ban phones in school, or not to ban?

3 of 4 U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead

Featured

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Mass layoffs underway at Atlanta-based CDC

Public health experts say the CDC cuts could represent generational damage to health research and the elimination of infectious diseases.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank discusses his hourlong phone call with Kirk Cousins

“I had a long and impactful conversation with him,” the Atlanta Falcons owner said at the NFL annual meeting on Tuesday.

Atlanta rapper Young Scooter died after cutting leg on wood fence, medical examiner says

New details still have investigators asking questions about the death of the rapper, who police say died after falling while running from officers responding to a 911 call.