An arrest has been made in Virginia in a cold rape case that occurred in Marion County as a result of a DNA match.
Last week, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes detectives identified a former Reddick resident, 26-year-old Timothy Damon Epps, as the suspect in a violent rape case from June 2009 after his DNA matched samples taken from the victim, according to a media release. Epps, an active U.S. Army service member, recently provided his DNA during a criminal investigation conducted by the military. After his DNA was placed into the national Combined DNA Index System database, detectives received notification that his DNA matched samples taken from the 2009 rape case that occurred in northern Marion County. After a thorough investigation, MCSO detectives developed probable cause for Epps’ arrest, and Virginia authorities arrested him on MCSO’s warrant last week.
On June, 30, 2009 at approximately 11:30 p.m., a 67-year-old female victim reported that an unknown black male, now identified as Epps, knocked on her door and falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer, according to the media release. When she opened the door, Epps forced himself inside the home, threatened the victim with a firearm and dragged her to a bedroom in the house. Epps then tied the victim to a bed post using telephone cords and belts, and raped her. He then stole $50.00 from the victim and left the scene. A DNA profile of the suspect was obtained from the sexual assault kit collected from the victim, but there were no positive matches through a CODIS search at the time.
On Oct. 25 of this year, MCSO Major Crimes detectives received a match on a new profile that was entered into the system that positively identified Epps as the suspect. As a result, detectives dug into Epps’ history and found that he lived less than two miles from the victim when the crime occurred. A 2009 photograph of Epps also determined that his features are similar to what the victim described at the time of the incident.
During the investigation, detectives determined that Epps was stationed at the Fort Eustis army base in Virginia. On Nov. 6, detectives traveled to Fort Eustis and attempted to interview Epps, but he immediately requested an attorney.
He was arrested by the Newport News Police Department on MCSO warrants charging him with sexual battery with a deadly weapon, burglary with battery and impersonating a police officer. He has since been transported back to Ocala and is being held at the Marion County Jail on $77,000 bond.
Based on information obtained through the course of the investigation, detectives believe it is highly likely that Epps might have committed similar crimes in other jurisdictions. He has resided in Florida, Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia. If you have any information on other crimes Epps might have been involved in, or if you believe you are a victim, you are urged to contact Detective Daniel Pinder at 352-368-3508.