DNA Solves 13-Year R@pe Mystery
DNA Solves 13-Year R@pe Mystery
A man evaded justice for over a decade after committing a serious crime in 2010, until forensic advancements finally linked his DNA to the case during an unrelated arrest last year.
The perpetrator, Mervin Cloete, was arrested in 2022 for violating a protection order. His DNA was entered into a national database, where it matched evidence from a long-unsolved case.
The crime occurred in Okiep, a small town in the Northern Cape, but with no initial leads or witnesses, the case had been closed in 2012. Detective Anthea Cloete-Landrew of the Springbok police unit pursued every avenue but was forced to pause the investigation.
When the DNA match surfaced, the case was reopened, leading to Cloete’s conviction. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
“The breakthrough brought closure to a case we never gave up on,” said Detective Cloete-Landrew, highlighting the impact of evolving forensic technology.
