HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – A 25-year-old man was arraigned Thursday in connection with the robbery, strangling and sexual assault of a woman in Highland Park.
Weeks after the sexual assault in May, Highland Park police were hoping a sketch of the suspect would help them catch a break. But something else helped them make the arrest that led to Thursday's arraignment.
Detectives got a hit on the DNA taken from the scene of the sexual assault. It took so long to process because there were so many other cases, officials said. When the DNA was put in the system, it turned up a felon named Keyonte Passmore.
Passmore was arraigned Thursday on charges he robbed, raped and strangled a woman on her way to work in the morning hours of May 27.
Police said it was a crime of opportunity, given the desolate industrial area of Manchester and John R. roads where the attack happened.
"When she wouldn't respond to his small talk and wanted to keep on to work, he grabbed her, dragged her into an alley and assaulted her," Highland Park police Detective Brian Menge said.
Weeks turned into months without an arrest. When Passmore was taken into custody, it was good for public safety, but it's not enough for the victim of the brutal attack.
"Physically, she had some abrasions," Menge said. "But mentally, it's a process. She'll have to deal with this the rest of her life."
Passmore has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, unarmed robbery, assault with intent less than murder and habitual offender.
Passmore is charged with stealing the woman's cellphone and being a habitual offender for two prior felonies. As a convicted felon, he had to submit DNA and that's what led to the match in this case.
You can watch Jason Colthorp's full story in the video posted above.