THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A man accused of raping a Thurston County woman five months ago was recently arrested in Texas.
On September 29, deputies were called to a home on Overhulse Road Northwest. The woman who called 911 said a strange man broke into her home and physically and sexually assaulted her.
The deputies searched the area but couldn’t find the man. The woman provided a detailed enough description of him that a forensic sketch artist was able to draw an image of him. Deputies posted the sketch on social media in October, hoping someone might recognize the man.
In early December, the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab provided the results of DNA evidence to identify the man. Detectives then discovered that their suspect had left the area and was in El Paso, Texas. They reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety and provided immediate assistance in the investigation. They continued to support the case while detectives obtained an extraditable arrest warrant.
Once the warrant was entered into the national system, Texas authorities found and arrested the man. Thurston County detectives then traveled to El Paso to interview the man. He waived extradition and was transported back to Washington where he was booked into the Thurston County Jail.