DNA evidence leads to arrest in 2009 armed robbery in Cape Girardeau jewelry store

DNA evidence collected from handcuffs used to bind a victim in a 2009 armed robbery of a Cape Girardeau jewelry store has now helped identify one of the perpetrators, police said Friday.

Kevin D. Stitt, 41, who is incarcerated in Nashville, Tenn., on an unrelated matter, is facing charges of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action for the Sept. 23, 2009, robbery of Jayson Jewelers.

Police became aware of Stitt when they were notified that DNA taken from Stitt matched that taken from the handcuffs in the robbery, said department spokesman Darin Hickey. The DNA was collected from Stitt when he was taken into custody in Nashville for a probation violation. When that matter is resolved, Hickey said, Stitt will be transported to the Cape Girardeau County Jail, where he will be held on a $75,000 cash-only bond.

In 2009, a female employee reported that a man and woman entered the downtown Cape Girardeau jewelry store pretending to look for wedding rings. A third man then came into the store holding a handgun. The employee was handcuffed and had duct tape put over her eyes and wrists. The robbers made off with merchandise and about $300 in cash.

On Friday, Jayson Jewelers owner Jayne Ervin said she was relieved.

"They told us from the beginning that they had enough evidence and enough DNA that it would probably eventually hit someplace," Ervin said. "We were glad to hear they got a hold of one of them. Hopefully, they'll get the rest of them. It was a bad situation."

The employee who was handcuffed is still employed there, Ervin said. Obviously, it was a traumatic experience for the employee, Ervin said. She said that employee was relieved as well.

"It was a very traumatic experience," Ervin said. "She's handled it very well, though. She's OK. ... She was very relieved about it all."

DNA evidence from the handcuffs was collected and submitted to the federal Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS. When the match was made, a detective from the police department went to Nashville and interviewed Stitt. Based on the DNA evidence and the interview, a warrant was obtained for Stitt. According to the probable-cause statement, Stitt admitted to leaving the Memphis area to rob the Cape Girardeau store with three others. He also said that they were driving a yellow rental car, similar to one that was described by witnesses as being in the area of the jewelry store that day.

Stitt also allegedly told the detective that he was the one who handcuffed the victim and put her in a closet.

Hickey said that databases such as CODIS are increasingly valuable law enforcement tools.

"These databases are growing exponentially by the day," Hickey said. "Even though the case is old, it's still being investigated. It may not be a day-to-day thing or running around chasing leads. But running DNA through CODIS is part of the investigation. Hopefully, this new lead and this new arrest could help identify the other subjects involved."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

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