Thirty-two years after a brutal rape in St. Petersburg, detectives believe they have the attacker in custody.
Anthony Stokes, 56, is accused of raping a woman in her home
Detectives tell us he was 25 when he broke into a home, implied he had a gun, covered his victim’s eyes and raped her.
The crime happened Dec. 12, 1986.
“She begged for him not to shoot and kill her,” said Major Shannon Halstead with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Traumatized by the crime, police tell us the victim, now 71, worries about confronting her attacker.
“The victim was in fear after this incident, that she had people pack her house and she never returned to the same residence again. When we made contact with her today, she was incredibly grateful,” said Major Halstead.
Modern DNA technology and persistent work by detectives in cooperation with the FDLE helped piece this case together.
“We haven’t forgotten and that we constantly reassess. Men and women that look at these case are very passionate about finding justice, whether it’s the next day or 32 years later,” said Major Halstead.
Their work is not finished.
“We know for a fact he’s connected to other cases,” said Major Halstead, meaning she believes there are additional rape cases yet to be solved, with Stokes as the perpetrator.
Detectives are still working those cases and may have additional charges.
