DNA Evidence
Introduction
The EARONS crime spree spans ten years and roughly 60 attacks. Unfortunately, not only has a lot of evidence has been discarded, but the attacks were happening at a time when forensic technology wasn't terribly advanced. Because of these factors, there is almost nothing in the way of physical evidence that ties these crimes together.
Luckily, DNA was preserved and examined at the ONS scenes where it was available. Many years after these attacks occurred, this allowed law enforcement to make a solid forensic link between most of the ONS crimes through this DNA evidence.
A breakthrough came when DNA that was preserved from 3 crime scenes in Contra Costa County where tested against the ONS DNA were found to be a match.
Connected Crimes
So in total, we have these crimes connected by DNA:
- EAR Attack #39 in San Ramon (10-28-78)
- EAR Attack #42 in Danville (12-09-78)
- EAR Attack #46 in Danville (6-11-79)
- ONS Attack #3 in Ventura (3/13/80)
- ONS Attack #4 in Dana Point (8/19/80)
- ONS Attack #5 in Irvine (2/5/81)
- ONS Attack #6 in Goleta (7/27/81)
- ONS Attack #7 in Irvine (5/4/86)
Most of the ONS DNA links were made in 2001, but it wasn't until May, 2011 that ONS Attack #6 (Domingo/Sanchez in Goleta) was added to the fold.
Unfortunately, none of the other crimes, particularly the ones in Sacramento, can be connected by DNA at this time because evidence was thrown out due to the statute of limitations on the rape crimes.