Home / Crime and Justice / Cigarette Butt Cracks 25-Year-Old Child Rape Cold Case
Cigarette Butt Cracks 25-Year-Old Child Rape Cold Case
2 Jan
Summary
- A single cigarette butt, collected 25 years ago, aided in solving child sex crimes.
- Genetic genealogy technology linked DNA from the butt to suspect David Zimbrick.
- The arrest brings closure to victims after nearly 25 years of unanswered questions.
Lawrence, Kansas police have arrested a suspect in two child sex crime cases dating back nearly 25 years. The breakthrough came from DNA analysis of a cigarette butt collected at a crime scene in 2000. This evidence, combined with modern genetic genealogy techniques, led authorities to David James Zimbrick, 58, who was arrested Monday.
Zimbrick is suspected in incidents that occurred in 2000 and 2003, involving young victims in local parks. The initial discovery of the cigarette butt by retired detective Mike McAtee proved critical. Over the years, DNA evidence collected from the butt was linked to a second case in 2003, but a suspect remained elusive until now.
Utilizing genetic genealogy, investigators identified Zimbrick, who now faces serious charges including rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. Police Chief Rich Lockhart expressed hope that this arrest offers comfort to survivors and acknowledged the possibility of other similar unsolved cases. Zimbrick is currently held on a $1 million bond awaiting extradition.
