Police make arrest in 1993 sexual assault case
-
Photo courtesy of Tucson Police Department.
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The Tucson Police Department has made an arrest in a 1993 investigation into the beating and sexual assault of 93-year-old Mary Ellen Scott.
Sgt. Maria Hawke, a spokesperson with TPD tells KGUN9 that Scott had been living at an assisted living facility located in the 4300 block of East Grant Road when she was found in her room, having been savagely beaten and sexually assaulted.
No suspects were identified at the time of the incident. Scott had suffered significant injuries and was unable to provide a description of her attacker or provide any investigative leads.
Scott passed away in Nov. 1993, having never having fully recovered from the injuries she sustained during her attack.
Detectives initially responded to further investigate at the time of the incident. The scene was processed and various items of evidence were collected, including swabs from sources of potential DNA. The DNA swabs were analyzed and an unknown male profile was developed. However, no matches found in the database at that time.
In April 2011, police were advised that a match for the DNA profile obtained in this case had been located in the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) database. The case was re-opened and assigned for follow-up investigation.
Claude Ranger, 48, had been incarcerated from 2001 through 2007 for a drug-related offense and his DNA sample had been collected at the time of that incarceration.
Tucson Police, in conjunction with the Pima County Attorney’s Office Investigative conducted an extensive amount of follow-up investigation in reference this incident.
An arrest warrant charging Ranger with sexual assault, aggravated assault and burglary was obtained on Oct. 4. Members of the US Marshal were able to locate Ranger as he was leaving his residence in Phoenix on Oct. 12.
Ranger has also charged with one count of sexual assault, one count of aggravated assault and one count of second degree burglary. He has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.