Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 UCW 9 Accused Ramsey Street Rapist jailed by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department's Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit have arrested a suspect in connection with six rapes that occurred over a two-year span more than 10 years ago. e crimes occurred on Fayetteville's northside, along Ramsey Street. Police say the attacks took place between March 2006 and January 2008. e man dubbed the Ramsey Street Rapist had been sought for years, but recent evidence came to light as the result of sophisticated new law enforcement technology. e suspect has been identified as Darold Wayne Bowden, 43, of Lin- den, North Carolina. He has been charged with sexual assaults that occurred on March 31, 2006, at Village at Carvers Falls Apartments; August 23, 2006, along the 4400 block of Ramsey Street; February 12, 2007, at apartments on Bubble Creek Court; March 6, 2007, at Village at Carvers Falls Apartments; September 18, 2007, at Heather Ridge Apartments; and January 26, 2008, at apartments on Bubble Creek Court. Police Lt. John Somerindyke, director of the cold case unit, said Bowden was arrested at his home by the city police violent criminal apprehension team working with the U.S. Marshal's violent fugitive task force. He was jailed on $18.8 million secured bond on 38 counts, includ- ing first-degree forcible rape, first- degree forcible sex offense, taking indecent liberties with a child and first-degree kidnapping. Bowden was identified using Snapshot Genetic Genealogy testing. Snapshot DNA Phenotyping Service is a tool developed by Parabon Nano- Labs that creates composite sketches based on DNA samples. It's the same technology that was recently used in California to identify the Golden State Killer. DNA belonging to the then-un- known local suspect was recovered at three of the crime scenes and was uploaded to the nationwide Com- bined DNA Index System. e FPD received a case-to-case DNA match in connection with a March 2004 peeping tom incident that occurred in Harnett County not far from the north Fayetteville area. Earlier this year, Parabon Nano- Labs developed a series of time- lapsed composite photos of the Ramsey Street Rapist that were age progressed to resemble what the suspect may look like today. Somer- indyke said at the time that his squad would remain relentless in its search for answers and a suspect. Anyone who believes he or she may have been a victim or knows someone believed to have been a victim of Darold Bowden is encour- aged to come forward and speak with detectives. Anyone with information concern- ing any cold sexual assault case is asked to contact Somerindyke at 910-709-8295 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS. Information can be submitted electronically at fay-nc- crimestoppers.org or by download- ing the free P3 Tips app available for both Apple and Android devices. JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Darold Wayne Bowden