DNA match leads to arrest in 2000 Raleigh rape

Maurice Barry-Albert Sullivan, 40, of 6603 Terrace Park Court, was charged Thursday with first-degree rape and first-degree forcible sex offense.

A 21-year-old woman was walking home from work on Oct. 1, 2000, when two men came up on her from behind in the 7100 block of Ray Road, pulled her into some nearby woods and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint, police said.

After the men fled, the woman called police, and DNA of her attackers was collected during a rape exam. The evidence was entered into the state's DNA database, but no matches were ever found.

Although Sullivan has a lengthy criminal record dating to 2003, most of the charges, from larceny to driving with a revoked license, were misdemeanors, according to state Department of Public Safety records. So, that didn't trigger a 2003 state law that requires a DNA sample from all convicted felons.

Last December, he was arrested in Knightdale for trying to disable an anti-shoplifting device, a felony, at a local Food Lion. He also had outstanding felony larceny warrants from Apex, authorities said.

After he was convicted in April, a DNA swab was taken, and once he was in the state database, investigators were able to link him to the 14-year-old rape case.

Detectives are working to identify and arrest the second assailant. Anyone with information that might assist the investigation is asked to call Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP.