Authorities in South Carolina announced the arrest of a man who they’ve reportedly tied to at least 13 attacks which occurred from March 1995 to May 2003.
According to the Herald-Journal, the Spartanburg Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Gregory Howard Frye, 52, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and first-degree burglary in connection with a March 1999 attack at an apartment complex. However, authorities revealed that additional charges are forthcoming.
In the March 1999 attack which occurred the Watermere Apartments, the victim claimed she awoke to find a man standing over her. The man threatened and attacked the woman before sexually assaulting her, according to an incident report obtained by the news outlet.
Spartanburg provided an infographic which indicated that an attempted rape occurred at the same apartment complex more than a month prior to the March 1999 attack.
Posted by Spartanburg Police Department on Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Police said all 13 attacks occurred during the early morning hours at residences in Spartanburg County and the city of Spartanburg. The 12 victims—one of whom was targeted twice—were all white women who ranged in age from 14 to 51, according to ABC News.
Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson said DNA testing at the time determined all 13 attacks were connected. However, the DNA wasn’t linked to a suspect up until recently, he said.
Investigators started reviewing cold cases six months ago and had sent DNA recovered from the attacks to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for analysis, according to the Herald Journal. Thompson said SLED used emerging forensic technologies to evaluate the DNA samples and match it to Frye last week.
The suspect had no charges for violent crimes in South Carolina, but he did have convictions for minor traffic violations. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said he had been “going about his business like nothing happened.”
Wright also stated that there could be additional victims.
“This is just a great day to know we got at least one person that is going to be held accountable for a reign of terror that he’s caused for these victims,” Wright said, according to ABC. “These victims are stronger than that and they are really inspirational.”
Frye is being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center without bail.
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg Police Department host joint press conference on arrest of Gregory Howard Frye in decades-old sexual assault case.
Posted by Spartanburg Herald-Journal on Wednesday, April 3, 2019
[Featured image: Gregory Frye/Spartanburg Police Department]
