<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-police.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri Police Department" width="175" height="101" style="margin-right: 5px;">
<img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/policelogo.png" alt="Police Department" width="98" height="121" style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px;">
<div style="padding-top:40px;
text-align:center;">
<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
<br />
Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; text-align:center; padding-top: 20px;">
<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">COMMUNITY INFORMATION</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">October 27, 2022</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Christian Tabak
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.289.9516
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Toni Messina
<br />Communications and Outreach Supervisor
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7660
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police arrest suspect in 1984 rape and attempted murder investigation, Oct. 27</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - On Oct. 27 at approximately 6 a.m. the Columbia Police Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) arrested James Frederick Wilson, 59, at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina.<br /><br />Wilson is charged with forcible rape with a weapon and first-degree assault with a deadly weapon. His arrest brings an end to a 38-year-long investigation into the rape and attempted murder of a Columbia resident in 1984. Wilson is being held at the Iredell County Jail in North Carolina with a $1 million bond.<br /><br />On March 24, 1984, at approximately 8 p.m. near the 4000 block of Wellington Drive, Columbia, the victim encountered the suspect, whom the victim did not know, while walking to work on Wilkes Boulevard near Providence Road. <br /><br />The victim told officers they were abducted at knifepoint by the suspect. The suspect drove the victim to the dead-end of Wellington Driv
e where he parked his car and then raped the victim. After the sexual assault, the suspect attempted to murder the victim with a knife. The victim sustained serious life-threatening injuries as a result. <br /><br />The suspect attempted to discard the victim’s body in a nearby creek. The victim laid still in the creek until they were able to seek help.<br /><br />Officers with the Columbia Police Department arrived and took the victim to the hospital where they were stabilized. During the investigation, the professional staff of the University of Missouri Hospital collected a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) kit from the victim. <br /><br />The men and women of the Columbia Police Department worked on this case for many years. Despite pursuing every lead available, the suspect remained unidentified. <br /><br />In March 2020 this case was assigned to Detective Renee Wilbarger, one of the Department’s sharpest cold case investigators. Detective Wilbarger exami
ned this case carefully to ensure all the evidence had been examined under the lens of modern forensic methods.<br /><br />Through advancements in DNA technology, the wide range of DNA databases and the help of partner agencies, Detective Wilbarger located a lead. Using DNA genealogy, the old police reports of this case and other investigative methods, she was able to identify Wilson as a potential suspect in this case. <br /><br />With the assistance of the NCSBI, Detective Wilbarger matched DNA from Wilson to the suspect DNA collected in 1984. <br /><br />On Oct. 27 a team of Columbia Police Detectives traveled to the home of the victim of this case. They met with the victim and let them know that after almost 40 years, an arrest had been made. The name of the victim and certain details have been withheld out of respect for their privacy.<br /><br />The Columbia Police Department commends the excellent work of Detective Wilbarger and the effort and sacrifice of all the offi
cers and detectives who worked on this case in 1984. They set the foundation for our current generation of detectives to relentlessly pursue similar suspects<br /><br />The Department has established a tip line for this investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case can email ColumbiaPoliceTipline@Como.gov or call 573.874.7400 to leave a message.<br /><br />As always, if you wish to remain anonymous you can contact CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS (8477). A tip that leads to an arrest or helps solve a felony crime could result in a cash reward.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case number 2020-003467</strong></div></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments"></div>
</div>
<div id="footerline">
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
</div>
<style>
#pressrelease{ margin:20px; margin-top: 0px;}
.attachments{margin-top: -10px;}
@media print {
body {font-size: 90%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;}
#pressrelease{ margin: 0px; }
}
</style><p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=8230">View this release on CoMO.gov or access a sharable link.</a></p><p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Archived releases can be viewed online at:
https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/directory.php</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided at https://www.como.gov/Web_Mail/ </p><style>div{margin: 10px;}</style>