Man Arrested After DNA Links Him to Two Cold Case Rapes

Kenneth David Downing, 47, a construction worker living in Spokane, WA was arrested on Thursday after investigators in used genetic genealogy to link him to two home invasions and rapes in 2003 and 2004.

“This cold case arrest was made possible through DNA matches, using evidence collected at the time that the crimes occurred. Those profiles led to a link between Kenneth Downing and the DNA evidence collected in the 2003/2004 cases. He was booked into the Whitman County Jail” Pullman police said in a statement.

 Downing appeared in court on Friday, where a Whitman County judge set his bail to $5 million. He is facing 13 felony charges, KREM reports. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

 Downing is due back in court on March 25.