A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday for a 2015 armed robbery and sexual assault after investigators matched his DNA to DNA evidence found at the scene.
Jamory Ross, 20, allegedly broke into a Columbus home on July 8, 2015, sexually assaulted a victim and burglarized the residence, according to a Columbus Police Department press release. Investigators collected DNA evidence from clothing at the scene, and the evidence was entered into a national database operated by the FBI.
“Once DNA is entered into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), it is constantly checked against new samples from persons convicted of other crimes,” CPD Chief Fred Shelton said in the press release. “The state now takes DNA samples from all prisoners, and that is how we got our match.”
Ross was arrested in November 2015 for an armed robbery outside Sandpiper Apartments, according to previous reporting from The Dispatch. However, Ross has not been indicted for that charge according to Lowndes County Circuit Court records.
Shelton praised efforts from police officers and the Columbus Crime Lab for solving the three-year-old sexual assault case.
“DNA evidence solves crimes,” Columbus Crime Lab director Austin Shepherd said. “DNA analysis takes time, but it works, and this case is an example of that process.”
Ross is in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center after he was denied bond earlier this week.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.