Police: DNA cracks cold case involving Springfield sex assaults

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Springfield police said Friday that they have found a suspect in a cold case involving a double sexual assault from 1995 after a man charged with a similar crime in Illinois matched an old DNA profile.

Melvin Green, 32, was charged earlier this week with the sexual assault of two female roommates in Springfield three days before Christmas in 1995, police said in a written statement. Green is charged with eight counts, including forcible sodomy, attempted forcible rape and robbery.

The two women reported that an assailant entered in the early morning hours and told them he had a gun. He attacked them and left after stealing money and jewelry.

Investigators at the time collected DNA evidence. Two months ago, they were told a suspect jailed in Joliet, Ill., matched the stored DNA profile.

A new DNA sample from Green also matched the crime scene evidence, authorities said. Springfield police interviewed Green and said he admitted to sexually assaulting the two women in 1995 and taking the cash and jewelry.

Green is currently jailed in Joliet, where he also faces sexual assault charges, police said.