Cold Case: John Doe Charges In WBL Kidnapping
(WCCO) -- Criminal charges have been filed against a "John Doe" in connection with an abduction and sexual assault of a White Bear Lake girl.
The victim was 13-years-old in 2001 when she told police the crime happened. Back then, the police officer who investigated the case didn't believe her story.
However, the persistence of the parents has now led to charges by a Ramsey County prosecutor.
Those charges are based on DNA evidence obtained from the blindfold he used on her.
This case is one of several charged in recent years as "John Does" in Ramsey and Hennepin. So far, there have not been any matches.
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I-TEAM: DNA, Charges Mean Vindication For Victim
Criminal charges have been filed against a "John Doe" in connection with an abduction and sexual assault of a White Bear Lake girl.
The victim was 13-years-old in 2001 when she told police the crime happened. Back then, the police officer who investigated the case didn't believe her story. He repeatedly accused her of lying during an interrogation.
"You keep lying and lying and lying and lying," the detective told her during the 2001 interrogation. "Do you want some innocent guy, driving around, doing his own business, to get arrested?"
"No," the girl replied to the detective.
"Tell me the truth," the detective continued. "What happened yesterday? How did you get down to Oakdale?"
"I don't know. Some guy drove me. And I don't care if you don't believe me because I know what happened," responded the girl.
It is still difficult to watch the video of the 8th grader, who is now a freshman in college, being interrogated by the officer who didn't believe her story.
However, her parents, who don't want their names to be used, refused to give up.
"You've got to back your child," said her mother.
The persistence of the parents led the Ramsey County's cold case sheriff deputies to take over the investigation. Surveillance video, which the police first missed, showed the girl's still unknown attacker leave her in a movie theater parking lot.
While the suspect is still at large, he's now charged by a Ramsey County prosecutor with kidnapping and sexually assaulting the girl.
Those charges are based on DNA evidence obtained from the blindfold he used on her.
"I feel it's vindicated her. Further letting people know that this really did happen," said the girl's mother.
The complaint charges an unknown "John Doe." The kidnapper's DNA has been put into a national database of criminals. The hope is if someone is picked up with a DNA match anywhere in the country, he'd be held for the attack back here in Minnesota.
When asked what the parents hope for now in terms of this case, the victim's father said he wants justice.
"Well, we hope to tie a name to that John Doe and see justice served. And to put somebody behind bars so they don't do that to somebody else. We'd like to put an end to it. I promise that I made to my daughter that we won't stop until justice is served and this person is caught," he said.
This case is one of several charged in recent years as "John Does" in Ramsey and Hennepin. So far, there have not been any matches.
As for the officer that conducted the interrogation, according to the Minnesota POST Board, he resigned last fall.
If you'd like to see the original video of the police interrogation in its entirety click here.
