John McCarthy
ATLANTA (CO) — A Georgia woman’s attempt to trace her family history turned horrifying when DNA revealed she is related to her mother’s stepfather, according to investigators.
The resulting investigation led to the 67-year-old stepfather being arrested and charged with a series of sex crimes, the Albany Police Department reported in a March 28 news release.
Investigators say the revelations began Jan. 30 when an Albany woman (identified as Jane Doe) reported suspicious facts had been revealed by a DNA test.
“She said she did an ancestry test and found that she was kin to her mother’s stepfather. Jane Doe’s mother, who is now in her 50s, reported the abuse to her mother previously, but nothing was ever done,” police said.
“Jane Doe said that she spoke with her mother, who divulged to her that her stepfather started having sexual intercourse with her from the age of 6 up until 14, when she became pregnant.”
A police investigation was launched, including “subpoenas for doctor records, school reports and DNA samples from the victim, daughter and stepfather,” police said.
The data confirmed the suspect “had sexual intercourse with his stepdaughter when she was 14,” police said.
He was arrested and charged with rape, child molestation, incest, sexual battery and sodomy, police said.
Albany is about a 180-mile drive south from Atlanta.
By MARK PRICE/Chorlotte Observer
Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.
