PULLMAN, Wash. — A 47-year-old Elk man was working at a construction site in Spokane when law enforcement arrested him for several home invasions and sexual assaults that happened in Pullman between November 2003 and March 2004.
According to a release from Pullman police, evidence collected when the crimes occurred matched DNA profiles that were found through familial genealogy sources, which investigators linked to Kenneth Downing.
That link came after a relative of Downing sent in a sample to learn more about their family tree, The Associated Press reported.
Downing was booked into the Whitman County Jail on Thursday and faced a judge on Friday.
He has been charged with four counts of rape, three counts of assault, three counts of unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation and other charges, according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors argued Downing was a threat to the public and his bail was set at $5 million.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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