– Suspect identified after decades
– Rape at clothing store, DA says.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Prosecutors in Middlesex County have revealed that a 71-year-old man has been identified as the suspect in a pair of rapes that occurred at a clothing store in Framingham in December 1989. Stephen Paul Gale has been indicted on multiple charges, including rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery, in connection with the incidents.
According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Gale was last seen at a family event in the United States in 2007. He was identified as the suspect through forensic genealogy using DNA evidence collected at the time of the crimes.
The incidents took place on December 27, 1989, when Gale entered a women’s clothing store on Route 9 in Framingham where two female employees, aged 18 and 29, were working. After forcing the women into the back of the store at gunpoint, Gale proceeded to rob them of cash and sexually assault them in separate rooms.
The victims managed to escape and seek help from a nearby residence after the ordeal. Despite Gale’s instructions not to look at him, the women were able to provide investigators with crucial information about his appearance.
Investigators collected forensic evidence and developed a DNA profile of the suspect in 2001, but it was not until 2022 that they were able to identify Gale using investigative genetic genealogy techniques.
Gale has been linked to multiple aliases and has ties to various cities and states across the United States, making it challenging for investigators to locate him. Despite the passage of time, prosecutors remain committed to bringing him to justice.
Ryan expressed gratitude for the investigative work that led to the breakthrough in the case, noting that while capturing Gale may be a challenge, she remains hopeful that he will be located soon.
The suspect is also believed to be involved in other incidents in the metropolitan area in 1989, though further details have not been disclosed at this time.
While Gale’s whereabouts remain unknown, authorities are determined to continue their efforts to apprehend him and bring closure to the victims and their families.
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– Suspect identified in decades-old rape at Framingham clothing store
– Framingham clothing store rape suspect identified after years.
