– Serial rapist sentencing after Charlotte NC victims
– Charlotte NC victims testify against serial rapist.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A Charlotte resident who has been identified by prosecutors as a serial rapist has been sentenced to life imprisonment this week following harrowing testimonies from three victims about their assaults that took place decades ago.
L.J. Bertha, now 64, was convicted in Mecklenburg County Superior Court on Monday for first-degree rape, second-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping, attempted second-degree sex offense, and common law robbery. The jury acquitted Bertha of one count each of first-degree rape and attempted first-degree sex offense, according to prosecutors.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office released a statement on Tuesday commending the bravery of the three survivors who testified against Bertha. Their accounts played a crucial role in securing justice and safeguarding the community.
One victim detailed her horrifying ordeal in 1993 when Bertha smashed her car window at a shopping center off Freedom Drive, forced her to move to a secluded area, and sexually assaulted her. Judge Peter Knight handed down the sentence based on the laws at the time of the crimes, with Bertha receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years for first-degree rape and an additional 33 years for the other convictions.
Authorities revealed that Bertha was arrested in 1993 after the first rape incident when the victim managed to contact the police upon being dropped off at the shopping center. DNA testing in 2023 conclusively linked Bertha to the crime.
In a separate incident in July 1994, Bertha assaulted another victim with a box cutter on Beatties Ford Road and raped her before she managed to escape and seek help at a nearby convenience store. DNA evidence collected years later confirmed Bertha’s involvement.
The third victim, who testified against Bertha, was assaulted in November 1996, leading to Bertha’s conviction in 1997 and a 20-year prison sentence. Additionally, Bertha was also charged in the 1995 rape of a 16-year-old near the present-day Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte. The case resurfaced in 2019 when new DNA evidence pointed to Bertha as the perpetrator.
The incident involving the teenage victim occurred as she was walking to a payphone to call her mother when she was attacked and robbed. The assailant, who was a stranger, offered to guide her to the phone, leading to the assault.
The current status of the case related to the 1995 rape near the Bank of America Stadium remains undisclosed as of Tuesday.
In conclusion, the sentencing of the serial rapist has brought closure to the survivors and serves as a reminder of the importance of DNA evidence in solving cold cases. The victims’ courage in coming forward has ensured that justice is served and the community is safeguarded from further harm..
– Serial rapist sentenced after Charlotte NC victims testify
– Serial rapist sentenced after victims testify in Charlotte.
