News Releases

Cold Case Detectives Arrest Suspect for Series of Rapes; Press Conference to be Held Today

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 14, 2018

Detectives from the Major Crimes Division - Cold Case Unit have arrested Marlon Michael Alexander, age 39, of Dairymaid Drive in Germantown, for attempting to commit a sexual offense and for committing three, first-degree rapes in the Gaithersburg and Germantown areas during a time period of approximately three years (2007 to 2011).  Alexander has also been charged with first-degree burglary in these four crimes as he gained entry into the victims' homes before sexually assaulting them.

The four incidents of burglary and sexual assault that Alexander has been charged with are as follows:

• On August 11, 2007, at approximately 1:00 a..m., the suspect gained entry into the 25-year-old woman's home located in the 18200 block of Lost Knife Circle in Gaithersburg and threatened the victim that he would shoot her if she did not perform a sexual act.  A struggle ensued and the suspect fled from the residence.  The suspect's DNA was recovered in this case.

• On June 19, 2010, at approximately 3:20 a.m., the suspect gained entry into the 68-year-old woman’s home located in the 20300 block of Beaconfield Terrace in Germantown.  He held an unknown weapon to the victim's head and raped her. The suspect's DNA evidence was recovered in this case.

• On August 21, 2010, at approximately 4:15 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the 86-year-old woman’s home (Churchill Senior Living Center) located in the 21000 block of Father Hurley Boulevard in Germantown.  He was armed with a pair of scissors as he raped the victim.  The suspect struck the victim with his hands multiple times before he fled.  The suspect's DNA recovered in this case was identified as belonging to the same suspect responsible for the August 11, 2007, and June 19, 2010 assaults.

• On January 5, 2011, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the victim of the June 19, 2010, rape was victimized again in her home (located in the 20300 block of Beaconfield Terrace).  The suspect's DNA left at the scene matched the DNA left at the three other crime scenes.

Recently, Alexander was developed as a suspect in these sexual offenses. Detectives obtained his DNA via a search and seizure warrant.  Yesterday, September 13, the DNA sample provided by Alexander was submitted to the Police Department's crime lab for analysis. The DNA was analyzed and matched the DNA samples left by the suspect in the four above offenses.

Later that day (September 13), Alexander was arrested on the strength of a Montgomery County arrest warrant at a grocery store in Germantown.  He was transported to the Central Processing Unit where he is being held without bond.  Alexander is scheduled to have bond review on Monday in Rockville District Court.

Detectives believe it is possible that Alexander committed additional sexual assaults and continue to examine similar unsolved rapes that have occurred in the County.

Press Conference Today (September 14):

Chief Manger will hold a press conference to provide details about this investigation and the arrest of the suspect.

WHEN:

Today, September 14 at 3:00 p.m.

Please note that media will be allowed to enter the Public Safety Headquarters beginning at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878. Lower level.

Please note that no further details of this arrest can be confirmed prior to the press conference.

Previous Press Releases Regarding These Offenses:

• Previous press releases for June 19, 2010 rape:
  
  
  • Suspect Sought for Sexual Assault in Germantown
  • Update: Suspect Sought for Sexual Assault in Germantown

• Previous press release(s) for August 21, 2010 rape:
  
  
  • Elderly Female Victim of A Sexual Assault in a Senior Living Center in Germantown
  • Update: Police Release a Sketch of the Suspect in Germantown Sexual Assault

• Previous press release(s) for January 5, 2011 rape:
  
  
  • Suspect Sought for Sexual Assaults in Germantown
  • Update: Composite Released for Today’s Sexual Assault in Germantown

• Previous press releases that address more than one of these offenses:
  
  
  • DNA Evidence Left at Scene Used to Create Suspect Composite in Series of Unsolved Rapes

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Release ID: 18-384
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: sexual-offense