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Police connect man to 1993 rape

Better DNA testing helps to convict a St. Petersburg resident in a case that went cold.

By JON WILSON
Published February 19, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Persistence and new DNA technology helped police find a suspect in a 13-year-old sexual battery case, which resulted this month in a conviction.

John Kelsey Jr. of St. Petersburg, 46, was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison for the 1993 rape of a nurse, assaulted in her apartment when she returned from a late-night work shift.

The St. Petersburg Police Department's personal-violence unit began reviewing more than 300 unsolved sexual battery cases three to four years ago when better DNA testing became available.

"This is the first cold case that has made it to trial," police Detective Bill Burris said. He said work continues and that suspects have been identified in about 15 other old cases.

Police began to develop a profile in the 1993 case when it occurred. DNA was collected as evidence, but the genetic material, contained in such substances as saliva, semen and hair, couldn't be matched to anyone.

The victim couldn't provide a good description of her assailant because he wore a ski mask and gloves and because the attack occurred in the dark.

When the victim came home, she had noticed the living room lamp that she always left on was off. She also found the cord unplugged just before she was attacked by a man armed with a knife.

She was tied up with phone cords, and a pillowcase was placed over her head.

In 2004, as detectives were working the cold case files, the suspect's DNA made it into the system because he was connected to another crime, Burris said.

Early last year, a DNA match was made with Kelsey, who turned out to be a former boyfriend of the victim's, Burris said.

"She was just as shocked as we were," he said. "We arrested the guy a little bit later."

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:22:42]