DNA leads to suspect in robbery from 2003

AUBURN— A DNA match led police to a man they believe robbed a CVS store nearly four years ago.

Charges were scheduled to be filed yesterday in Central District Court against Isabelo Rodriguez, 32, of Holyoke, who is currently incarcerated at the state prison in Concord, according to Auburn Police Detective Sgt. Jeffrey A. Lourie.

“Modern technology assisted us to solve a crime that otherwise may have gone unsolved,” Detective Lourie said yesterday.

The case involves the robbery of the CVS story at 699 Southbridge St. at 2:18 a.m. on July 24, 2003.

Two masked men entered the store and demanded money. One of the robbers took a male employee and demanded to be given the security tape. The robber held a knife to the employee’s abdomen and hit the man in the face with the blunt end of the knife.

The other robber demanded money from a female employee in the store. The man grabbed the employee by the arm and poked a box-cutter knife to her body. He ordered her to open all cash registers, which she did. He then stuffed money into his pockets and ordered the employee to the floor and fled the store.

Police did not reveal the amount of money stolen. No drugs were taken in the early morning robbery, police said.

One of the masks believed to have been worn by one of the suspects was found at the scene and recovered by police. The mask was sent to the state police crime lab for analysis.

Last May, Auburn police got word from the lab that DNA on the mask was linked to a person in CODIS, Combined DNA Index System, Detective Lourie said. The forensic computer database has records of criminals’ DNA profiles.

Last November, Detective Eric K. Dyson obtained a warrant to collect a DNA sample from Mr. Rodriguez. That sample was sent to the state police crime lab for testing, and in February Auburn police received word that the sample was a match to the DNA found in the mask.

As a result, Mr. Rodriguez is being charged with armed robbery while masked and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Detective Lourie said he did not know the reason for Mr. Rodriguez’s current incarceration.

The identity of the other suspect is still under investigation, he said.

Although the state Registry of Motor Vehicles lists Mr. Rodriguez’s last address as Holyoke, the state Board of Probation lists a last address for him as being in Springfield.

The use of DNA evidence in solving crimes long thought to be unsolvable is increasing in frequency.

Detective Lourie said Auburn police just received another hit on another case.

“They are becoming more prevalent as the database grows. It’s maybe the third one we received in the past 12 months. It is a lengthy process, but we are very thankful. It is another tool for law enforcement to use,” he said.