SAEDNEWS: DNA evidence from a 1994 sexual assault case has linked 55-year-old Abraham Ramirez to four other unsolved cases in Arizona, proving how modern forensic science can deliver justice even after decades.
Authorities in Arizona say DNA evidence has finally connected a man to a string of sexual assaults that have remained unsolved for decades.
Abraham Ramirez, 55, was indicted in Maricopa County Superior Court on 11 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping, according to a press release issued Monday, September 8, by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
The breakthrough came thanks to forensic work conducted as part of the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI), which aims to test every sexual assault kit for DNA evidence.
The oldest case dates back to 1994, when Ventura County deputies responded to a report of a woman who had escaped after being sexually assaulted by Ramirez. At the time, a sexual assault kit was collected, but prosecutors dropped the case due to insufficient evidence.
For nearly three decades, the case remained unsolved. Advances in forensic technology, however, allowed investigators to re-examine the kit. When Ramirez’s DNA profile was uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), it matched the 1994 case and four other unsolved cases in Arizona.
Court records show Ramirez is now tied to two sexual assaults in Phoenix in 1998 and 1999, as well as two additional cases from 2013. All five cases involve victims who never received justice until now.
“This case proves that no matter how much time has passed, we will use every tool available to pursue justice and stand with survivors,” Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said in a statement.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stressed the importance of testing every sexual assault kit, regardless of how old the evidence may be.
“This outcome underscores the power of DNA testing and the critical role of our crime lab in bringing long-delayed justice,” Nasarenko said. “Even decades later, testing these kits can uncover the truth and give survivors their voices back.”
The countywide VCSAKI program, launched in 2022, has already helped reopen multiple cold cases. Ramirez’s indictment is being hailed as a powerful example of why forensic evidence must never be ignored.
In August, a Maricopa County grand jury indicted Ramirez on multiple counts, including sexual assault and kidnapping. NBC News reported Tuesday, September 9, that prosecutors are now preparing to try him on all five cases.
Authorities hope this case sends a message: advances in forensic science mean that time does not erase accountability.
The Ramirez indictment comes as part of a broader national effort to test old sexual assault kits, many of which sat unexamined for years. Across the U.S., thousands of survivors are seeing their cases reopened and long-overdue justice pursued.
“This is not just about one man or one case,” Sheriff Fryhoff emphasized. “It’s about making sure no survivor is ever forgotten.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, confidential help is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at rainn.org.
