DNA Match Solves 28-Year-Old Cold Case

Correction: On Friday, March 20, 2023, the Brookford Police Department (North
Carolina) served the Owensboro Police Department warrant on Robert Shelton (59
Years old of Hickory, NC) on the charges of Kidnapping and Sexual Abuse 1st Degree.
Shelton also faces charges of rape from the Indiana State Police in connection to the
cold case.

In December of 1994, a 19 year old female was kidnapped near Brescia University, assaulted in Owensboro, then taken to Indiana where the assault continued. The Owensboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division recently conducted a review of the case. The Criminal Investigations Division contacted the Indiana State Police Laboratory who advised they still had DNA evidence on file that was entered
prior to the development of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

Indiana State Police was contacted and asked to reopen their case and to retest the DNA which developed a potential suspect.

The Owensboro Police Department and Indiana State Police conducted a joint investigation and a search warrant was executed following up on the new lead.

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Detectives from the Owensboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division received a DNA match that led to the confirmed
identification of the suspect in the cold case.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Hickory Police Department (North Carolina) served an Owensboro Police Department warrant on Robert Shelton (59 Years old of Hickory, NC)
on the charges of Kidnapping and Sexual Abuse 1st Degree. Shelton also faces charges of rape from the Indiana State Police in connection to the cold case.

The Owensboro Police Department would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance in the investigation:
• Indiana State Police
• Hickory Police Department (North Carolina)
• Brookford Police Department (North Carolina)
• Catawba County Sheriff’s Office (North Carolina)
• North Carolina Probation and Parole

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