St. Petersburg police investigators said they believe he may be connected to a number of other cases that happened between 1986 and 1987.

ST. PETERSBURG – A St. Petersburg man was arrested this morning (June 15) and charged with a rape that happened in 1986, police said.

Anthony Stokes, 56, of St. Petersburg, was charged with one count of armed sexual battery, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Police said that about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 12, 1986, a 39-year-old woman was home alone when a man broke into her house, implied he had a gun, and raped her. DNA evidence was collected and stored at the time. The case eventually went cold, with detectives renewing their efforts in 2006 without success.

Over the past few months, cold case investigators again focused on the case, and this time had a DNA match to Stokes.

Detectives arrested Stokes early this morning. They said they believe Stokes may be connected to a number of other cases that happened between 1986 and 1987.

If anyone has any additional information, they are urged to call St. Petersburg Police at (727) 893-7780. They can also text SPPD + the tips to TIP-411.

St. Petersburg Police | Crime | Rape | Arrests | Tampabay News

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