Prosecutors in Contra Costa County, California have announced that they have a “major development” in the NorCal Rapist case. The culprit is believed to have committed at least ten sexual assaults in northern California, starting in 1991. Law enforcement officials will hold a press conference to discuss the latest in the case on Friday at 11:00 a.m. local time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Watch live in the player above, courtesy of CBS Sacramento.
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, and Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn are all expected to make statements related to the case. Various elected officials and law enforcement figures will be present as well. No official statement regarding the nature of the announcement has been made, but sources told the Sacramento Bee that police made an arrest on Thursday after using DNA and photographs to locate the suspect.
The suspect is believed to have specifically targeted young Asian females between 1991 and 2006. He is said to have blindfolded women and restrained them with duct tape, as well as either saying he had a gun or showing one. In some cases, he was reported to have apologized to the women, even calling them after the incidents to apologize for using their ATM cards.
One victim was able to provide details of what the suspect looks like, after her blindfold slipped off and she was able to see his face. Police then had a forensic sketch of the suspect done.
This makes the second recent breakthrough in a serial rape case in the northern California, after police arrested Joseph James DeAngelo, who they believe to be the Golden State Killer.
[Image of sketch via Sacramento Police Department.]