DNA match leads to arrest in 1989 sex assault, burglary cold case

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have arrested and charged a man with the 1989 burglary and rape of a 19-year-old woman.

According to police, on Aug. 27, 1989, someone broke into a home along Simmons Street, off of Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte. Once inside, he sexually assaulted the woman and ransacked the house before leaving.

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The 19-year-old called 911 and went to the hospital, where investigators collected DNA evidence from her. That DNA was initially tested in 1990, police said.

According to CMPD, 56-year-old Johnny Evans Jr. was recently identified as a suspect through a DNA match.

Evans was arrested on Monday and charged with first-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree rape. He is in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 911, or leave the information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visiting the website here.

(WATCH BELOW: 18-year-old in custody, accused of several sex assaults, offenses over 2-month span)