DNA evidence led Denver prosecutors to charge a man with sexual assault in a 15-year-old case on Monday.
Gradie Miles, 40, was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of sexual assault causing serious bodily injury.
Police believe Miles beat and raped a woman who attempted to recover her wedding ring after he ripped it off her finger as she returned home.
The assault took place in the alley between the 1500 blocks of Xenia and Yosemite streets in September, 1993.
Denver detectives working with the Denver Crime Lab used DNA taken when Miles was incarcerated on unrelated charges. “The match came back (some time) ago but detectives needed to do additional traditional work on the case to develop it,” said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney’s office.
Miles, who has an extensive criminal record that includes charges for robbery and assault, remains in custody on $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court Wednesday to be advised of the charges.
The Cold Case DNA Project is an ongoing collaborative effort involving Denver Police detectives, the Denver Police Department Crime Lab and the Denver District Attorney’s Office with grant funding through the National Institute of Justice.
