(FORT WAYNE) – An arrest has been made in connection with a rape that happened in LaGrange County in 1986.

On February 10, Michigan State Police, at the request of the Indiana State Police, arrested a 62 year old man on criminal deviate conduct, burglary and criminal confinement charges out of LaGrange County stemming from 1986. This follows a 39 year investigation that was able to use science and technological advancements to help in the investigation.

In October 1986 LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department along with Indiana State Police detectives began investigating a sexual assault that took place near Howe. The offense started in the early morning hours of October 23, 1986, after the suspect abducted an adult female who had stopped and exited her vehicle to remove an object from the road. During their investigation, it was determined that the victim had been held against her will near Howe, was sexually assaulted and then transported to a location near Orland in Steuben County and sexually assaulted again. At the time an Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technician was called to collect evidence and document the scenes. All leads that were available at that time were exhausted and the case was left unsolved.

In 2015 an Indiana State Police detective learned of the case and took interest. Knowing how technology has changed since 1986, he went to the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Regional Lab and asked if there was any evidence left in this case, specifically any DNA evidence. After the lab identified there was DNA evidence, the results were run through an Indiana DNA database with no matching results.

In 2023 the DNA results were found to be a candidate for genetic genealogy and resulted in identifying a family line tied to the DNA evidence. Through good police work and investigation, the Indiana State Police District 22 Detectives and the Indiana State Police Cold Case Team were able to narrow this family line down to one person. On February 10, 62 year old Ricky Devonne McLatcher of Quincy, Michigan was arrested on the LaGrange County charges.

McLatcher is being held at the Branch County Michigan Jail awaiting extradition to Indiana.