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25 years later, man charged in Smyrna rape investigation

Smyrna Police said Walter Waitus Bullard is charged with felony rape, felony armed robbery, felony kidnapping, felony false imprisonment, felony aggravated sodomy.

SMYRNA, Ga. — A suspect has finally been named in a 25-year-old rape case.

Smyrna Police said Walter Waitus Bullard is charged with felony rape, felony armed robbery, felony kidnapping, felony false imprisonment and felony aggravated sodomy. 

Police said the crime happened back in February 1994. It wasn't until Feb. 7 of this when a Smyrna detective assigned to the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit secured a warrant for Bullard's arrest. 

The arrest warrant revealed the suspect walked into a business on Herodian Way in Smyrna with a gun and forced the woman to hand over money. He allegedly made her go into the break room and raped her. After he left, the victim went to the hospital to have a sexual assault kit completed. 

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Investigators are now linking Bullard to the crime because they received a CODIS match from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.

According to GBI's website, CODIS is a database of DNA profiles which include casework and convicted offenders. FBI provides the CODIS service, which stands for Combined DNA Index System, and its software.  

Smyrna Police said Bullard is in the Cobb County Sheriff's Office's custody. 

READ: While GBI works to catch up on testing rape kits, victims still await a resolution

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