“California Man Arrested in 31-Year-Old Cold Case Rape in Montgomery County, Maryland”

Maryland law enforcement officials have made a significant breakthrough in a cold case rape investigation that took place 31 years ago in Montgomery County. The arrest of a 62-year-old California man, Xavier Battice, was made possible through advancements in DNA technology.

The Montgomery County Police Department announced on Tuesday that their major crimes cold case unit successfully apprehended Battice and charged him with rape. The arrest comes after an extensive investigation into the incident that occurred on September 24, 1992.

According to the police, the victim disembarked from a bus near Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland when she was followed by the suspect, later identified as Battice. He allegedly pursued her to a nearby park where he committed the heinous act of rape before fleeing the scene.

This breakthrough in the case was made possible through the diligent work of the Cold Case detectives who sent evidence obtained from the crime scene to the crime laboratory. The laboratory created a DNA profile from the evidence, which was then submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for analysis. The DNA profile matched to Battice, leading to his identification and subsequent arrest.

The suspect was located in California, residing in Morgan Hill. Montgomery County detectives reached out to the Morgan Hill Police Department for assistance in apprehending Battice. He was arrested by local authorities and held until his extradition back to Montgomery County, Maryland, where he was processed.

Currently, Battice is being held without bond as he awaits further legal proceedings.

The Montgomery County detectives have expressed concerns that there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward. They are urging anyone with information about the crime or anyone who may have been a victim to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at www.crimesolversmcmd.org or call 866-411-8477.

This arrest serves as a reminder that advancements in DNA technology can bring justice to victims even decades after a crime has occurred. It also highlights the dedication and hard work of law enforcement agencies in pursuing cold cases and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions.

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