59-year-old Brian Avis was arrested on September 17, 2021, for the July 19, 1996, home invasion rape of a 10-year-old girl in Brigantine, New Jersey. The girl was sleeping in her bedroom when an intruder broke in and raped her. He fled when the girl woke. Police recovered semen from the victim’s bed. This was part of a series of reports of an individual engaged in voyeurism and attempted sexual assaults of young girls in Brigantine between 1995 and 1996.
A DNA profile of the suspect was developed and entered into CODIS in 2002, but there were no hits. There is currently no information on who conducted the FGG investigation, but it is described by Atlantic County prosecutors as a private company. Police obtained a warrant to detain Avis and take a sample of Avis’ DNA, which was found to be included in the crime scene sample.
Avis was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 years, burglary, and endangering the welfare of a child in Atlantic County Criminal Court. The string of sexual offences in Brigantine at the time are still being investigated by police.
Avis was indicted by an Atlantic County Grand Jury on November 30, 2021, for several charges of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault on a child under the age of 13, as well as burglary to inflict bodily injury, and child endangerment through sexual conduct in relation to both victims.
Police in Brigantine alerted authorities in Galloway Township of the charges against Avis, and that after arresting Avis they had obtained a fingerprint hit to the home invasion assault of a 5-year-old girl on July 18, 2003, in Galloway Township.
Avis pled guilty in June of 2022. In September of 2022, he was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for offences against both victims.
Sources:
Cohen, Noah. “Arrested Made in 1996 Sex Assault of Girl During Home Invasion, Police Say.” NJ.com, September 17, 2021. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.nj.com/atlantic/2021/09/arrest-made-in-1996-sex-assault-of-girl-during-home-invasion-police-say.html?fbclid=IwAR21uw0akAxThhozq7moj7oUse0XUuOw4kQ-dgGvmoYnoK6X5L6fXQTyYOA.
Craig, John. “NJ Sex Assault Suspect Nabbed With Fingerprint DNA Hears His Sentence.” Daily Voice, September 13, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/atlantic/news/nj-sex-assault-suspect-nabbed-with-fingerprint-dna-hears-his-sentence/843493/.
NBC 4 New York. “NJ Man Charged for the Sexual Assault of 10-Year-Old Girl During 1996 Home Invasion.” NBC 4 New York, September 17, 2021. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nj-man-charged-for-the-sexual-assault-of-10-year-old-girl-during-1996-home-evasion/3278976/.
Office of the Atlantic County Prosecutor. “Brian Avis Indicted on 8 Counts for Sexual Assaults of 10 Year-Old Brigantine Girl & 5 Year-Old Galloway Girl.” Office of the Atlantic County Prosecutor (Press Release), November 30, 2021. Accessed December 29, 2021. https://www.acpo.org/brian-avis-indicted-on-8-counts-for-sexual-assaults-of-10-year-old-brigantine-girl-5-year-old-galloway-girl/.
Walsh, Jim. “Police: DNA Links Man to Sexual Assault of Child 25 Years Ago.” Courier Post, September 17, 2021. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2021/09/17/brian-lee-avis-brigantine-sexual-assault-child-1996/8385756002/.