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Arizona man pleads not guilty in Medina County cold case rape from 1997

Authorities say DNA evidence connects Samuel W. Legg III to the crime.

There has been a potential break in a Medina County cold case. An Arizona man has been taken into custody for a rape that occurred more than two decades ago in 1997.

Authorities say DNA evidence connects Samuel W. Legg III to the crime. 

Legg, who has been extradited back to Ohio, made his first court appearance in the case Thursday morning.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him before the judge ordered Legg undergo a competency evaluation.

The court will hold a competency hearing on April 4.

Additionally, authorities say Legg's DNA is linked to four homicides, although details on those cases have not yet been released as indictments have not been made at this time.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued the following statement Wednesday:

"Our job is to help local law enforcement in whatever way possible to get bad guys off the street. This is a textbook case of all partners involved doing their very best each day to bring justice on behalf of a victim. Thanks to the diligent work of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, this suspect was returned to Ohio to face justice."

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