Police say DNA evidence collected at the scene of a 1986 rape of a St. Pete woman led to the arrest of a 56-year-old man more than three decades after the crime.
In the early hours of Dec. 12, 1986, police said an unknown man broke into a woman’s home, said he had a gun and then raped her.
Police had no suspect and the case went unsolved for many years.
In 2006, the case was reopened, but efforts to find a suspect were unsuccessful.
On Friday, nearly 31 years later, police announced 56-year-old Anthony Stokes was a match with DNA gathered from the crime scene.
Stokes was arrested early Friday morning on charges of armed sexual battery and booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
Investigators suspect he may be connected to a number of other rape cases occurring between 1986 and 1987.
Those with information should call St. Petersburg Police at 893-7780 or text SPPD + the tips to TIP-411.
