**DNA from 1990 Rape Kit Ties Suspect to Georgia Double Murder Decades Later**
In a significant breakthrough, DNA evidence from a decades-old rape kit has linked a Georgia man to the brutal stabbings of a woman and her brother in their suburban Atlanta apartment in 1990. Kenneth Perry, 55, has been charged with multiple counts of malice murder, aggravated assault, and other crimes in connection with the deaths of Pamela Sumpter, 43, and John Sumpter, 46, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Perry has also been charged with raping Pamela Sumpter. The siblings were attacked on July 15, 1990, at their home in Stone Mountain, approximately 17 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. John Sumpter had brought Perry to their apartment, and the attack ensued shortly thereafter. Pamela Sumpter survived the initial attack and was hospitalized, where she provided authorities with a detailed description of Perry, whom she identified as an acquaintance of her brother.
While Pamela was hospitalized, medical officials collected a rape kit containing the attacker’s DNA. Unfortunately, Pamela succumbed to her injuries on August 5, 1990, and the case went cold. This year, a sample from the rape kit was uploaded to a national database, where it matched DNA from an unprosecuted sexual assault in Michigan in 1992. The victim in that case identified the suspect as Perry, her ex-boyfriend.
The case in Michigan was never prosecuted, and it remains unclear why. A spokesperson for the district attorney referred inquiries to the prosecutor’s office in Wayne County, Michigan, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The breakthrough came when a genetic genealogy firm linked DNA from Pamela Sumpter’s rape kit to a “family network that could include” Perry. Authorities arrested Perry and directly compared his DNA to the material collected from the kit. On June 20, authorities confirmed that the samples matched.
Perry is currently being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail. In a motion filed Monday, Perry’s lawyer requested a reasonable bond for possible pretrial release, arguing that Perry poses no significant threat or risk of obstructing justice. The lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the significant development in the case, highlighting the role of forensic genetic genealogy in leading to Perry’s arrest. Boston noted that this is the first case they’ve been able to crack with recent federal funding from the Department of Justice, received in October 2023.
The DNA evidence from Pamela’s rape kit was matched to a sexual assault case in Detroit, where Perry was listed as the suspect. With the help of a private lab partner, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the DNA in the 1990 case belonged to Perry, who was residing in Loganville, Georgia.
James Sumpter, the victims’ brother, expressed relief at the closure brought by the arrest. “This world is wicked and evil,” he said. “I pray that the justice system prevails on behalf of my brother and sister. We can face a future with hope.”
Perry has been indicted on two counts each of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. He also faces four counts of aggravated assault and one count of theft by taking.
Boston emphasized the importance of continued funding for solving cold cases, noting that there are about 600 cold cases in DeKalb County, with dozens being good candidates for the new forensic technology. “As long as people are willing to give us the funds we need to do this work, we’re prepared to keep on doing it,” she said.
The arrest of Kenneth Perry marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the Sumpter siblings, bringing a sense of closure to their family after more than three decades.
Source: NBC News, 11Alive
