DNA evidence leads to charges in 31-year-old case in Monongalia County

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman 31 years ago has been charged after recent efforts sparked by the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), Monongalia Prosecuting Attorney Gabrielle Mucciola announced Thursday.

According to a release, Tony Bethea, 53, has been charged in connection to a sexual assault case reported by a victim on March 7, 1993. Nobody was charged at the time of the report, but the evidence was preserved and later processed as part of the West Virginia SAKI project.

Bethea’s DNA was then entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which resulted in a match between the sample from 1993 as well as another DNA profile. Bethea has three previous sexual assault convictions and is currently serving time at the Mt. Olive Correctional Center.

As a result of the connection, state troopers obtained four new felony warrants against Bethea for 2nd-degree sexual assault.

Another man was recently charged thanks to the efforts of the SAKI project after being connected to an alleged sexual assault in Westover from 2000. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice also announced on Wednesday that 21 projects in West Virginia would be receiving almost $1.2 million in SAKI grants.

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