W. Virginia Rape Suspect Tied To 2003 Coral Gables Rape
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) - A seven-year-old case involving the rape of a woman in Kendall may be solved thanks to the arrest of a man in West Virginia. It turns out he was arrested for another sexual assault and police say his DNA connects him to the South Florida case.
Coral Gables Police have been looking for the suspect ever since the victim was abducted on April 5th, 2003 from a Barnes and Noble store parking lot in Kendall and then driven to Coral Gables, where she was raped and dropped off on the side of the road.
The crime prompted extensive coverage at the time and a Miami-Dade Police Crime Stoppers re-enactment and a replaying of a 911 call in which the victim said the suspect "got in my car."
At the time, Police said the suspect gave the victim an excuse for his violent behavior. He reportedly told her that he was going through a divorce.
Now authorities in Martinsburg, West Virginia say 46-year-old Bryan K. Ansley was arrested for a home invasion and rape in Berkeley County. They say his DNA from that victim matches the DNA sample submitted to a national database by the Coral Gables victim.
Outside the Barnes and Noble store in Kendall where the victim was abducted in 2003, shoppers told CBS4's Peter D'Oench the latest development was good news.
"It's definitely gratifying," said Elyethe Fernandez of Kendall. "We're protected no matter which state that we're in. Because the DNA is impossible to beat. DNA is there for the victims in these cases. And to any woman going out, it's good to know that Police won't give up in cases like this."
"I feel a little concern because of the time it took to make an arrest," said another shopper, Yiseth Hernandez. "It's all because of the time span. It's been more than 7 years. But I am really glad because of this development. It's better that this happen now instead of never."
"It shows police never lost hope," said Steven Cattuse of Kendall. His wife, Ashley Cattuse, added, "It could have been me. It could have been anyone one of us."
It's not clear when Ansley will be brought back to South Florida to face charges here. But the arrest is gratifying to authorities here. At the time of the Coral Gables attack, police spokesman and officer Martin Barros said, "This is a beast. Whether you do this to a girl, a woman, a lady, he needs to be caught."
Ansley is being held without bail at the Eastern Regional Jail in Martinsburg, Virginia.
He was arraigned late Monday on charges of kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault and burglary in connection with the March 9th incident in West Virginia.
In that case, the victim said someone began knocking on her door and when she opened it, a man entered her home and took her to the ground, pulling her shirt over her head.
A spokeswoman for the Coral Gables Police Dept. told CBS4 that two detectives are in West Virginia and hope they will be allowed to interview Ansley.
