CLEVELAND — A 62-year-old man was arrested this week after authorities say they used DNA to identify him as a suspect wanted in connection with rape allegations dating back more than 20 years.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office announced the details Thursday, saying he’s one of three cold case suspects recently identified -- but the two others have since died.
John Doe #103: Kenneth Edmond
Edmond, who had been known as “John Doe #103,” was taken into custody Wednesday after the G.O.L.D. Unit (Genetic Operations Linking DNA) used forensic genetic genealogy and CODIS familial searching amid their investigation.
Edmond was allegedly involved in the following incidents as outlined and described by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office:
Sept. 15, 2000
The 72-year-old female victim, who was homeless at the time, was standing under the Detroit-Superior bridge. Kenneth Edmond, currently 62, approached the victim, shoved her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her. After the sexual assault, Edmond fled the scene. The victim walked around asking for help. A good Samaritan assisted her and called the police. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) responded to the scene and the victim was transported to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
Oct. 30, 2001
The 21-year-old female victim was walking near East 9th Street and Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland. Edmond approached the victim, grabbed her by the neck, and forced her through an opening in a fence under the I-90 bridge. Edmond proceeded to sexually assault the victim multiple times. After the sexual assaults, Edmond stole money from the victim’s purse and then fled the scene. The victim flagged down a nearby good Samaritan who assisted her to the Cleveland State University Police Station. From there, she was transported to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
“The same unique male DNA profile was developed from both victims’ sexual assault kits but did not produce any leads in CODIS,” according to the prosecutor’s office. “The DNA profile was then indicted as ‘John Doe #103’ to ensure that the statute of limitations did not expire.”
John Doe #103 was then charged with the following:
- Three counts of rape
- Three counts of kidnapping
- One count of robbery
In 2022, the prosecutor’s office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s DNA lab reviewed the evidence for potential forensic genetic genealogy. Investigative genetic genealogists with Gene By Gene and Firebird Forensics Group Incorporated then connected the DNA to Edmond, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“Investigators then obtained Edmond’s DNA and sent it to BCI to be tested. The tests confirmed that the DNA in the victims’ sexual assault kits matched that of Edmond. The original John Doe #103 indictment was amended to reflect his true name as the defendant.”
John Doe #10: Carlis Conley (died in August 2012 at 79 years old)
Here is information on Conley’s case as outlined and described by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
Oct. 21, 1993
The 33-year-old female victim was walking near West 64th Street and Clark Avenue in Cleveland. A van pulled up next to the victim while she was walking. Carlis Conley, age 79 at the time of his death in August 2012, and Frankie Graham (previously John Doe #9) approached the victim along with two additional unknown males and forced her into the van. They then drove to Train Avenue, parked the vehicle, and sexually assaulted her. They tied the victim’s hands and feet together and shoved her out of the vehicle. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
June 7, 1994
The 25-year-old female victim met up with Thomas Graham (previously John Doe #11), whom she had known for two weeks. He drove her to an alley near West 48th Street and Storer Avenue where he, Carlis Conley, and two additional suspects sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. After the assaults, they forced her out of the car. She ran to a nearby house and called the police. She was transported to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
Aug. 30, 1998
The 27-year-old female victim was standing near West 47th Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland when Conley, Thomas Graham, and an additional unknown suspect told her to get into their vehicle. Once the victim was inside, they forcibly sexually assaulted her multiple times and then fled the scene. A witness heard the victim screaming and called the police. CDP responded to the scene. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
After authorities say the same unique male DNA profile was developed from sexual assault kits for all three victims, John Doe #10 was indicted “to ensure that the statute of limitations did not expire.”
The following charges were filed:
- Three counts of rape
- One count of kidnapping
- One count of robbery
BCI was later able to connect the DNA profile to Conley and conducted some additional testing.
“The analysis confirmed that the DNA in the victims’ sexual assault kits matched Conley’s DNA,” according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. “The original John Doe #10 indictment was amended to reflect his true name as the defendant. Because Conley is deceased, the charges against him were dismissed as abated by death.”
John Doe #161: Noland McKinnon (died in February 2018 at 48 years old)
Here is information on McKinnon’s case as outlined and described by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
April 20, 2005
The 20-year-old female victim was walking near East 97th Street and Kinsman Road in Cleveland. Noland McKinnon, age 48 at the time of his death in February 2018, approached the victim and offered her a ride. Once the victim was inside his vehicle, McKinnon drove under a bridge and sexually assaulted her. After the sexual assault, the victim went to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault kit was collected.
A male DNA profile was developed from the victim’s sexual assault kit, but didn’t produce any leads at the time. That’s when John Doe #161 was indicted to ensure the statute of limitations did not expire. The charges included:
- Three counts of rape
- Two counts of kidnapping
BCI later connected the DNA profile to McKinnon, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“The analysis confirmed that the DNA in the victim’s sexual assault kit matched McKinnon’s DNA. The original John Doe #161 indictment was amended to reflect his true name as the defendant. Because McKinnon is deceased, the charges against him were dismissed as abated by death.”
