Appleton police say DNA testing helped them solve three 22 year-old sexual assault cases. Sergeant Pat DeWall says they learned in July that the DNA from a convicted felon matched evidence from three separate outdoor attacks in 1989. DeWall says two of the victims were children — 11 and 12 years old, while the third case involved the sexual assault of an adult in September of 1989. He says they had to clear that case, because of the statute of limitations.
AUDIO: Sergeant Pat DeWall (:60)
Zareczny is in the Outagamie County jail, and police are seeking two counts of sexually assaulting a child. Under state law, convicted felons have to submit a DNA sample to the state’s database. DeWall says these cases show how that database can help solve “cold cases.”
Mike Kemmter, WHBY
