by Ventura County, CA – A decades-old mystery involving a series of home invasion rapes across California, Michigan, and Ohio has finally been linked to Sean Patrick McNulty, a former Navy diver who died by suicide in 1997. This breakthrough, announced by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on September 4, stems from extensive DNA testing and genealogical investigation that connected McNulty to multiple unsolved sexual assault cases dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.
McNulty’s identification gives closure to long-unsolved crimes and brings new attention to cold cases spanning three states. The investigation also uncovered previously unknown links between sexual assaults committed over a span of more than a decade.
Decades-Old Crimes Linked by Advanced DNA Forensics
The journey to uncover McNulty’s connection began when the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau reexamined evidence from two home invasion rapes that occurred in Ventura in 1982 and 1983. The sexual assault kits were tested and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database used by law enforcement to help identify suspects.
DNA from these Ventura cases matched biological evidence from four additional home invasion rapes that had happened in Michigan and Ohio in the 1990s—specifically in Okemos, MI (1994), Birmingham, MI (1995), and Columbus, OH (1997). Despite the matches, the assailant’s identity remained unknown for years.
Genealogical Investigation and FBI Collaboration Reveal Identity
The breakthrough came when an investigative genealogist used McNulty’s DNA profile to identify him as a possible perpetrator. Confirming the suspect’s identity required comparison samples, which were obtained following an FBI crime analyst’s discovery of a 1993 rape case in Bloomington, Indiana, where McNulty was already a prime suspect.
Investigators secured a biological sample linked to McNulty in the Bloomington case and matched it against the Ohio rape DNA, confirming a definitive link. Further comparisons with California and Michigan cases solidified McNulty as the individual responsible for these violent home invasions.
Background on Sean Patrick McNulty and Victim Outreach
Sean Patrick McNulty was a native of Ventura, California, graduating from Buena High School in 1977. His criminal record includes an arrest in 1978 for making obscene calls, and he served as a diver for the Navy starting in 1979. McNulty traveled extensively, living or visiting at various times:
- The Philippines
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Virginia
In 1997, McNulty died by suicide in Michigan after becoming aware that he was a suspect in the 1993 Indiana rape case. Following his identification in the cold cases, authorities attempted to notify surviving victims.
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One victim told investigators she had “waited forty years” to receive closure following these traumatic events.
Significance of This Breakthrough and Future Perspectives
The identification of Sean Patrick McNulty as the perpetrator of these crimes using modern DNA technology and genealogy highlights the importance of reexamining cold cases with new forensic tools. This progress provides long-awaited justice to victims and serves as a reminder that even decades-old cases can be solved.
Key takeaways from this investigation include:
- Utilization of DNA testing and CODIS to link cases across states and decades.
- The crucial role of investigative genealogists in identifying suspects with partial or unknown DNA profiles.
- The collaborative efforts between local law enforcement and federal agencies like the FBI.
- Importance of victim outreach and communication post-investigation.
For more detailed coverage on the case, visit People.com.
Have Your Say
What do you think about advances in forensic science leading to breakthroughs in decades-old cases? Have you or anyone you know been affected by cold case resolutions? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
