DNA evidence links man to 2 sexual assault cases from over 25 years ago
AUSTIN, Texas - DNA evidence led to a man's conviction in two sexual assault cases from over 25 years ago.
Michael Lance Gamez got 15 years in prison on Aug 3 after pleading guilty to one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault in May.
Michael Lance Gamez
The backstory:
In Sept. 1999, a woman was at the Capital Metro Pavilion Park & Ride on Research Boulevard after arriving on a northbound Leander bus.
A man approached her while she was sitting on a bench, and as she got up to walk to a nearby convenience store, he physically assaulted her and then attempted to sexually assault her.
When the woman screamed, the man fled south.
Less than five months later, in Feb. 2000, another woman was returning to her Northgate Boulevard apartment. As she opened the door to her home, a man approached and asked her for help.
She allowed him inside, and he violently attacked and restrained her and tried to sexually assault her. The woman fought back, and the man fled the scene.
APD collected forensic evidence from both scenes.
Identifying the suspect
In April 2000, Texas DPS told Austin police that DNA evidence from both scenes matched the same man. However, the identity of the suspect would remain unknown for more than two decades despite investigative efforts and leads.
In Oct. 2023, APD learned from DPS that the DNA profile had finally been identified as that of Michael Lance Gamez.
In Feb. 2024, detectives were able to find Gamez and obtain DNA from him through a search warrant. That sample was sent to Texas DPS to compare to the evidence collected to confirm the match.
The DNA match was confirmed in Oct. 2024 and the following month Gamez was arrested and charged with first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping, second-degree felony attempted aggravated sexual assault and third-degree felony attempted sexual assault.
The Source: Information in this report comes from a Sept. 2 release from Austin police