Larimer County Genealogical Society

Man Sentenced for Kidnapping, Rape 25 Years Ago, ID’d Through Genealogical DNA

A man who kidnapped and raped a teenage woman a quarter century ago, Mark Thompson, now 66, was brought to justice and sentenced to 130 years-to-life in state prison after his DNA was identified using a genealogical program.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan last week reported that defendant Thompson, 66, was sentenced to 130 years-to-life in state prison for kidnapping and raping a teenage girl multiple times on February 17, 1999 in Escondido, California. Judge Robert Kearney handed down the lengthy sentence after Hunter was convicted by a jury in October of 2023 of seven felony counts including kidnapping, rape, and sodomy. 

“The victim was 19-years old when she was brutally attacked by this defendant and put through a nightmare scenario,” said DA Stephan. “Justice was delayed, but thanks to investigators at the FBI, Sheriff’s Crime Lab, Escondido Police Department and District Attorney’s Office, who leveraged the power of modern DNA and never gave up, this rapist is now being held accountable for his crimes.”

You can read more in an article in the times-advocate.com web site at: http://tinyurl.com/ytmpevbj.