Contact: Beth Stone- 508-584-8120
BROCKTON, MA -State Police Detectives and Brockton Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest who has been forensically linked to three violent rapes and two homicides, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced today.
Brockton Police have been investigating three violent rapes which occurred in October and November, 2013 and a third which occurred in January, 2014. As part of the investigation, DNA results all came back from each of these rapes positive for the same unidentified individual.
On December 28, 2014, the body of Ashley Mylette and skeletal remains of Linda Schufeldt were discovered together in the woods behind 251 North Quincy Street in Brockton. As part of the investigation, DNA was extracted from one of the women and, after analysis by the State Police Crime Lab, it was determined to be a match with the DNA from the three rape cases.
Recently, DA Cruz contacted Parabon NanoLabs in Virginia to conduct Snapshot DNA phenotyping. Parabon used the DNA sample to predict this person of interest’s physical appearance and develop a computer generated composite sketch. The technology uses the DNA to accurately predict eye, hair and skin color.
Investigators are now asking for the public’s assistance to report any information in these cases or to identify the individual in the sketch. The man is a suspect in the three rape cases and is linked forensically to the death of Ashley Mylett.
“We never forget a victim, no matter how much time goes by,” DA Cruz said. “Massachusetts State Police Detectives in my office, along with Brockton Police have never stopped investigating these cases. We believe there are people that may have information about these crimes and I encourage them to come forward and share what they know with State or Brockton Police.”