For Immediate Release
July 21, 1999

Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office

First "Cold" Hit Recorded in National DNA Index System!

This month the DNA Analysis Unit of the FBI Laboratory was notified of the first "cold" hit through the National DNA Index System (NDIS). A "cold" hit is when an association between either an offender or a crime scene is made absent an investigative lead. Six unknown subject sexual assault cases that occurred in Washington D.C. have been confirmed as linked to three sexual assault cases under investigation by the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff's Office.

In early June, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Laboratory compared DNA profiles in NDIS to a DNA profile from one of the Jacksonville cases. The FDLE notified the FBI Laboratory of the possible association between the three Florida cases and a Washington D.C. assault. At that time, the FBI Laboratory, which analyzes and uploads DNA profiles to NDIS from cases in the District, entered additional profiles from Washington D.C. sexual assault cases and informed FDLE that five other assaults from the Washington D.C. had been linked through DNA profiling. Subsequently, in early July, Leon Dundas (deceased), was identified as the assailant in these cases following analysis of a blood sample by the FDLE Laboratory.

Five of the Washington D.C. sexual assaults, known as the "7D" rape cases, occurred in late 1997 and early 1998. The sixth case occurred in July 1998. Two of the Florida sexual assaults, referred to as the "Jamaican rapist" cases, occurred in the Spring of 1998 and the third in September 1998.

Two additional Washington D.C. sexual assault cases may also be connected to Mr. Dundas pending the outcome of DNA analysis on those samples.

The FBI announced the creation of NDIS in October 1998. NDIS enables public forensic laboratories throughout the United States to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking unsolved serial violent crimes to each other and to known sex offenders. Currently, 14 states participate in NDIS which contains approximately 180,000 DNA profiles. All 50 states have been invited to participate in NDIS and it is the FBI's goal to ultimately have all 50 join.