DNA links cases in Woodstock jogger’s death and 2004 rape

Greg Smith
Norwich Bulletin

DANIELSON — A Woodstock jogger killed in December was tied up in a similar fashion as the Plainfield woman raped at her home in 2004, court documents revealed this week.

Scott Deojay, 36, of Plainfield, has denied involvement in the June 18, 2004 rape, but has admitted to striking Judith Nilan, 44, of Woodstock, with his car while she was jogging on Dec. 12.

Deojay is charged with murder in Nilan’s death and the police warrant affidavit unsealed Tuesday indicates that Nilan was sexually assaulted. Deojay, however, has not been charged with sexual assault in the case.

A day after her husband reported she had never returned from her daily jog on Dec. 12, Nilan was found hidden and tied up on property where Deojay was a caretaker

New court documents released this week reveal the victim in the 2004 rape case was also bound and sexually assaulted.

Police obtained a DNA profile from the rope used to tie up the rape victim. On Jan. 6, the state police forensic laboratory matched Deojay’s DNA with a sample taken after his arrest in Nilan’s death.

Deojay is charged with capital felony murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with Nilan’s death. He is charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary in connection with the 2004 Plainfield rape case.

He is slated to appear in Danielson Superior Court for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 15.