CHARLOTTE, NC — CMPD has charged a suspect in connection to a sexual assault cold case that took place in 1995.
Christopher McNear, 52, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with several crimes after being interviewed by detectives. His charges include First Degree Rape and First Degree Kidnapping.
Police say the crime took place on July 14, 1995. A 17-year-old victim was walking home from work on N. Tryon Street when McNear allegedly grabbed and forced her behind a building at knife point.
That’s when investigators say he sexually assaulted her.
The victim was reportedly treated at a hospital shortly after the incident and a sexual assault kit was taken and tested, but failed to identify the suspect. In 2018, CMPD says the kit was retested as part of a federal grant received by the department and identified McNear as the suspect based on DNA evidence.
McNear is also a registered sex offender, according to police.
