DNA match cracks 11-year-old child rape case

NOW: DNA match cracks 11-year-old child rape case

After more than 10 years, a suspect has been charged in the gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl.

It was July 13th, 2006 when a the girl was walking near 51st St. and North Ave. A vehicle full of men pulled up and forced her inside.

The men drove 51st and West Congress. Pinning her hands behind her back and covering her mouth, they pushed her into the basement of a home.

The girl struggled to get away and said "get the f*** away from me." Despite her attempts to resist the kidnappers, three men took turns raping the girl.

Eventually the men allowed the 15-year-old to leave. She ran to a friends house and called the police.

Eleven years after the crime, on August 4, 2017, the state crime lab reported a hit. DNA found on the victim that night matched 33-year-old Duane Thompson.

When police interviewed Thompson, he told them he's not a rapist, he always uses condoms, and he didn't understand how his DNA got on the victim.

The state crime lab reports DNA matches are being linked more and more since a state law to build a DNA Database was passed in 2015.

In 2016 the databank helped produce 904 investigative leads.

Police report the now 26-year-old was shaking and crying as she looked through a photo array and identified one of the men that raped her.

Thompson made his first court appearance Tuesday and will be back again next week.

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