DNA Evidence Links Suspect To Another Alleged Rape Case

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A local man, already in jail in connection with several rape cases, has now been linked to another, and it's all thanks to new DNA evidence.

The case happened in Friendship back in 1989, and it has been unsolved ever since.

Until now that is. And the man charged in the case is already in prison, convicted in the rapes of three others. He is serving 90 to 180 years behind bars.

Michael Lipinski now faces another charge of rape. Authorities say the victim was raped inside her apartment on Roup Street 23 years ago.

"At the time in 1989, the laboratory… was not analyzing DNA," said Dr. Karl Williams, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. "They were analyzing other specific markers."

Investigators did collect a rape kit when the victim was assaulted back then inside her apartment.

Authorities say it happened in the middle of the night. The victim reportedly had her eyes taped shut, her clothing ripped and a lighter was held between her legs. But there was no DNA database at the time.

Now, fast forward.

Lipinski is convicted in 2006 and 2008 in other rape cases and his DNA went into the system.

"Now process is much more accurate, but it still requires good, solid police work. It still requires somebody to identify eventually a suspect and… that person has to for some other reason be in that data bank," said Dr. Williams.

Lipinski is appealing current conviction.

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