Police Charge Alleged Cedar Hill Rapist Using DNA Evidence

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Police believe they may have solved a series of Cleveland Heights rapes, some dating back more than 20 years, all thanks to some new technology, NewsChannel5 reported.

From 1984 to 1986, people in Cleveland Heights lived in fear of the Cedar Hill rapist.

"He'd come out of the woods, grab them, cover them up, drag them back into the woods, rape them several different ways at knife-point and then take off running after he was done," said Cuyahoga County prosecutor Bill Mason.

Then suddenly, the attacks stopped. Almost 20 years went by without the rapist claiming another victim. It was about the same amount of time that suspect Clifford D. Jones, 47, was in prison for raping a young relative.

"He was sentenced to a nine to 25-year sentence. He served about 19 years of that sentence, got out in 2004. Within three months of being out he started his attacks on these women again on Cedar Hill," said Mason.

There were four more victims, including a 12-year-old girl. Once again, investigators were baffled.

Jones was sent back to prison for violating his parole after police said he was caught in a Warrensville Target store masturbating and watching young children.

A new state law forced Jones to submit a DNA sample, and it matched DNA found on his alleged victims.

"But for him going back to prison the second time when the state changed the law when they started swabbing all defendants going to prison, we would not have caught him," said Mason. "Those people in the community, those victims who were violated, they can be at rest and at ease now knowing that this man will never get out of prison."

Jones remains in prison as he awaits trial. Mason said all of Jones' alleged victims have agreed to testify against him.

Jones will not face charges in the cases from the mid-80s because the statute of limitations has expired. He could still spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on the other rape charges.