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30-Year Rape Case Solved by Texas Rangers
30 May
Summary
- Man arrested for 1997 sexual assault in Midland mall parking lot.
- DNA and genealogy research identified the suspect after nearly three decades.
- Texas Rangers led the investigation with multiple law enforcement partners.
Authorities in Texas have identified and arrested a suspect in a violent sexual assault that occurred nearly 30 years ago. On September 1, 1997, a 49-year-old woman was attacked in the parking lot of the Midland Park Mall. She reported being abducted at knifepoint, assaulted, and then left by her attacker.
Initial investigations and DNA evidence submitted over the years did not yield an arrest. However, in March 2023, the Texas Rangers revived the case through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program. Advanced DNA testing and genealogy research conducted by Bode Technology provided a crucial lead.
This new evidence led investigators to identify James Lee Woodard, now 61, as the suspect. In April 2026, a grand jury re-indicted Woodard for aggravated sexual assault, attaching his name to the indictment. He was subsequently arrested in Big Spring by the Texas Rangers and the Midland Police Department.
The Texas Rangers extended gratitude to their partners, including the Midland Police Department, Midland District Attorney's Office, and Bode Technology, for their dedication in resolving this decades-old case and bringing justice to the victim.
