Man Charged in 2003 Cold Case Rape and Killing Linked to Recent Machete Attacks

A man has been charged in the rape and killing of a woman that occurred in 2003 after he was recently arrested for machete attacks, Philadelphia authorities reported. The arrest was made based on DNA evidence allegedly linking the suspect to the cold case.

Elias Diaz, aged 46, is now facing charges in the death of Rebecca Park, which took place 20 years ago in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, according to officials.

The arrest was made on Sunday in connection with a series of machete attacks that occurred last month, as revealed by First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford at a news conference on Tuesday. The assailant, who rode a bicycle along a trail in Pennypack Park, has been linked to Diaz.

Diaz initially refused to provide his name upon arrest, but was later identified through his fingerprints. Authorities also collected DNA evidence from him, which investigators believe connects him to the 2003 killing.

Charges Filed in Connection with Machete Attacks and Cold Case

Prosecutors announced on Wednesday that Diaz is now facing multiple charges, including murder, rape, aggravated indecent assault, and possession of an instrument of crime, related to Park’s slaying. Additionally, Diaz is facing charges of aggravated assault in connection with two alleged machete attacks in November.

The Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is representing Diaz, has not yet provided a comment on the case, as requested by CNN.

Background on the 2003 Cold Case

Rebecca Park, a 30-year-old student, went missing after going for a jog in 2003, according to the police. Her body was discovered in Fairmount Park, buried under dirt, leaves, and rocks. DNA evidence was collected by the police during the investigation.

During the same six-month period, two other women were attacked and provided matching descriptions of the assailant, stated the Philadelphia police. One woman was assaulted by a Hispanic man on a bike in April 2003, leading to the collection of DNA evidence. Another woman, attacked in October 2003, also provided a similar description of her attacker.

Another incident, a sexual assault on a 25-year-old woman, occurred in 2007 near the location of the recent machete attacks. The victim described a male on a bike, matching the previous descriptions. DNA evidence was also collected in this case.

Authorities have mentioned that Diaz could potentially face charges in other assault cases as well.

DNA Evidence Connects the Crimes

Frank Vanore, the first deputy police commissioner of field operations, stated that all the DNA evidence from the various crimes was entered into a database and matched. “We knew that we had a pattern of DNA, and we knew we had the same offender in these cases,” he said, adding that they were unable to identify the perpetrator until now.

In 2021, investigators created a composite sketch using the DNA of the unknown male. The DNA was sent to a genealogy lab and compared to publicly available genealogy databases. This led them to find over 1,000 potential family members with links across the country, including Puerto Rico. With the help of multiple law enforcement partners, the investigation ultimately narrowed down the family tree to one branch, identifying Elias Diaz as a person of interest.

Advancements in DNA Techniques Lead to Arrest

District Attorney Larry Krasner mentioned that this case dates back to 2003 and the suspect has managed to evade justice by riding a bicycle. However, advancements in DNA techniques allowed investigators to finally identify Diaz as the perpetrator.

“Science outran this guy’s bicycle,” Krasner stated, drawing a comparison to the capture of the Golden State Killer in California. “Science got him.”

A preliminary hearing for the November machete attacks is scheduled for January 3, while a preliminary hearing for the 2003 killing is set for January 8, according to online court records.

CNN’s Laura Dolan contributed to this report.