MADISON COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Rangers have cracked open a nearly 20-year-old sexual assault case and say they have DNA genealogy to thank for helping nab the person they said is responsible.
Ivan Linebaugh, 58, of Bedias, was arrested Monday. He is currently charged with aggravated assault. Investigators said Linebaugh sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop while he was working as a Madison County Deputy back in 2000. He was arrested at his job without incident, according to a press release from DPS.
Investigators said Linebaugh, working as a deputy back on April 25, 2000, pulled over a woman for a traffic violation around 11 p.m. on I-45 near Madisonville.
The woman later filed a report and claimed Linebaugh forced her to perform a sexual act or else threatened she would go to jail.
At that time, the Texas Rangers were brought in and began investigating. They collected DNA evidence from the woman's clothing and that evidence was sent to the crime lab in Austin, according to the release.
The case was reopened in 2017 by the Texas Rangers and they contacted the FBI to help with the investigation. Authorities were able to do DNA genealogy research, which was then traced back to Linebaugh, according to investigators.
At this time, Linebaugh is still in the Madison County Jail.
We will bring you more details as they become available.
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