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Police reopen investigation into teen's 1995 murder

There are new efforts to find the man who raped a murdered and 14-year-old girl in 1995.
Nacole Smith was murdered in 1995.

ATLANTA – There are new efforts to find the man who raped a murdered and 14-year-old girl in 1995.

This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the brutal death of Nacole Smith. The teen was murdered in a wooded area by some apartments on Campbellton Road.

Back in 1995, Acqunellia Smith was confident that the assailant would be caught. Still, there have been no arrests two decades later.

Police say the man struck again nine years later just a few miles away in the 1300 block of Connally Drive in East Point. That time he raped another teen but didn't kill her.

Detective Vincent Velasquez says the DNA from both attacks is identical.

As the 20th anniversary of Nicole's death approaches, the family is planning a vigil and Velasquez is taking another look at this cold case.

"Who we're looking for is someone who has intimate knowledge, someone the suspect may have confessed, or bragged to, or a witness who saw someone running out of the woods," Velasquez said.

Police have only a vague description of a black male, who would be somewhere in his 30s today. The second victim described him as having a gap between his two front teeth and wearing gold-rimmed prescription glasses, but they don't know if that's still the case.

Atlanta Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 404-577-TIPS (8477).

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