Press Release

Alaska Prosecutors File First Charges Based on a DNA Profile

August 6, 2010

Anchorage, Alaska - In an unprecedented legal action in Alaska, state prosecutors filed criminal charges today against an unknown offender based upon a DNA profile.

Deputy Attorney General Richard Svobodny said the charges were filed in this manner because the 10-year statute of limitations in effect at the time of the crime otherwise would have expired on Monday, August 9.

"I want the victim of this kidnapping and sexual assault - as well as all Alaskans - to know that we will never rest when such heinous crimes remain unpunished," Svobodny said. "The filing of these charges is a tribute to the hard work and close cooperation among the prosecutors in the Department of Law, criminologists at the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory and detectives of the Anchorage Police Department."

More information is available from Rick Svobodny at (907) 465-4044.

• Charging Document - (PDF 141K)

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.