DNA links inmate to two rapes

DNA has linked the 1993 kidnappings and rapes of two teenage girls in North Miami-Dade to an imprisoned rapist named Solomon Gause, police said Wednesday.

Miami-Dade police charged him with armed sexual battery, armed robbery and kidnapping.

''They're glad he was identified and are on board to prosecute,'' Miami-Dade Detective Bill Nadramia said of the now-adult victims.

According to police, on Feb. 28, 1993, a 13-year-old was walking near 66th Street and Northwest 19th Avenue when a man in a car pulled up at about 12:50 a.m. He pointed a gun at her, punched her in the mouth and forced her into his car. Then he drove her to a parking lot and raped her.

The rapist threatened to kill her -- then stole her two gold necklaces.

Then on April 13, 1993, a 15-year-old girl was leaving Northwestern High, 7007 NW 12th Ave., when a man pulled up in a car.

''If you don't get inside this car, I'm going to shoot [you],'' he told her, according to police documents.

Like before, he pointed at what appeared to be a handgun in its pouch.

Semen samples were taken from both girls at the time.

In 1994, DNA hits linked the cases to the same man. But no sample on file at the time matched.

In November 2006, using updated DNA technology, a state database came back with a hit, Nadramia said.

Gause was charged after another DNA sample taken in prison came back positive.

Gause, 42, served five years after he was arrested for a rape and kidnapping later in 1993, records show. In 2002, he was convicted for sexually assaulting a minor younger than 12 years of age.

Nadramia, whose cold-case sexual battery squad is reviewing some 800 cases, conducted a prison interview with Gause, whose tattooes include the nicknames Mr. G, Mr. Cool and Superman. ''He denied it,'' Nadramia said.