Posted on 04/29/2005 1:20:52 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The suspect in the 1973 rape of an aspiring Manhattan actress claimed yesterday to be stunned when a Post reporter told him he's been linked by DNA to 24 other attacks in three states. "I thought the past was behind me," Fletcher Anderson Worrell said at Rikers Island.
Worrell didn't admit committing any of the crimes but his comments were punctuated with long sighs when asked if he was guilty.
"I really can't talk about any of this," he said, and shook his head.
Worrell jumped bail in 1978 after being convicted of an attempted rape in Queens, and disappeared for nearly 30 years.
He was living under a new name in Georgia until he applied for a shotgun permit and a fingerprint check revealed he was wanted in New York.
He was told at a court appearance Tuesday that DNA evidence on the panties of the 1973 victim had tied him to a string of other attacks, a law-enforcement source said. But at Rikers, he claimed to be surprised about the DNA link.
"I had no idea," Worrell repeated over and over. "I definitely had no idea."
He said he was worried that the ties to the old attacks would be reported.
Told that he was already in the papers, he asked, "Even in Georgia?"
"I thought the warrants were taken care of," he said.
Asked about various crimes he's suspected of including those attributed to the "Silver Spring Rapist" in Maryland his response was another sigh.
"You're asking me about things . . ." he said. He stopped and waited before adding, "This is so much to digest."
At another point he said, "I appreciate your telling me what is going on. But I just don't know what to say."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
He doesn't know what to say... His ass has been busted and soon will be handed to him...
From the NYPost: "Worrell jumped bail in 1978 after being convicted of an attempted rape in Queens, and disappeared for nearly 30 years". Appears this is really happening closer to 2008, 1978 + (nearly)30 yrs. A Back to the Future award to the NYPost for some real visionary reporting!
Your RIGHT! hahahaha.
"I thought the warrants were taken care of," he said.
Amazing, either a bald faced liar or just incredibly stupid.
Apparently, according to local news,the statute of limitations has run out on the rape case & he cannot be brought to justice for it.
Isn't rape a capital offense? There's no sol on those.
Then, you may want to tell Chuckie Schumer, who's trying to change the law, that he's on a wild goose chase. If the offense occured before the law deemed there was no SOL (this rape was the early 70's) then it wouldn't apply.
That's why Charles Manson wasn't put on death row...his crimes happened before the death penalty became law in California.
You do know why rape is not a capitalist defense don't you?
Otherwise, there would be little incentive for rapists not to simply kill all their victims.
He was convicted but never served the time. I don't think he'll be using that shotgun for a while.
Correction: NY DA Robert Morgenthau is trying to change the law on this one.
Either way, I hope justice prevails.
"...applying for a shotgun permit..." I don't understand that. Apparently that happened in Georgia. I was unaware that a "permit" was required for a shotgun in Georgia.
Only for sawed off double barrel models.;~)
Obviously, he doesn't watch Cold Case Files or American Justice or he would know all about DNA and other forensic tools.
That's what I meant. Thanks for clarifying. Nice to see laws that protect criminals./sarcasm
At least they haven't granted him parole...........yet.
"...applying for a shotgun permit..."
so ... it was background checks, for purchasing a weapon that finally brought this guy to justice ....
does the NRA know about this?
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