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Hamilton Heights Rape Suspect DNA Matches All Four Rapes
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 21, 2009
Modified Sep 21, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 21, 2009
Modified Sep 21, 2009
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Police believe they've apprehended the serial rapist responsible for four sexual assaults in Hamilton Heights since early August. The suspect is identified as 21-year-old Vincent Heyward, of 281 Edgecombe Avenue, just blocks from where the last sexual assault took place. According to police spokesman Paul Browne, officers approached Heyward on Tuesday around 12:30 a.m. because he resembled sketches of the rapist. Heyward agreed, telling the cops, "Yeah, that does look like me." He also consented to swab his cheek for DNA testing, then went on his way.
Yesterday afternoon, the chief medical examiner reported that the DNA sample matched evidence from all four rapes, and police went to Heyward’s home. And after six hours of negotiations with a relative, he turned himself over to police. Browne tells the Times that Heyward "fit the description to a 'T'." That's good, because police had previously arrested a Pennsylvanian ex-con, but he was ultimately released after DNA tests didn't match.
Tagged
arrest
DNA evidence
hamilton heights rapist
nyc
serial rapist
suspect
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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