Gregory Paul Vien was arrested on November 18, 2019, and charged with two sexual assaults in Livermore and Union City, California that took place on September 15, 1997, and May 6, 1997, respectively.
On May 6, 1997, a male suspect grabbed a woman walking to a Union City BART transit station. She was dragged into a secluded area at knife point. Her clothes were cut off her and she was sexually assaulted. A DNA profile was obtained from semen found on her clothing. In September of that year, a woman was sexually assaulted while walking near Livermore High School. A DNA profile was obtained from semen found at the scene. Vriend is a suspect in several similar sexual assaults that took place in Livermore at around that time.
The FIGG investigation was performed by Barbara Rae-Venter. The initial confirmation was made by police surveillance followed by the surreptitious sampling of a spoon that Vien had used at Baskin Robbins.
Vien was released from custody for medical reasons. This decision drew a good deal of criticism in the community. After his release, he attempted suicide with a nail gun. He succumbed to his injuries on Friday November 21, 2020. His victims were testifying at his preliminary hearing at the time of his death.
Sources:
Bay City News Service, and Jeremy Walsh. “Prosecutors Announce Charges in Livermore Cold-Case Rape; Defendant Had Ties to San Ramon.” Danville SanRamon, November 19, 2019. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.danvillesanramon.com/news/2019/11/19/prosecutors-announce-charges-in-livermore-cold-case-rape-defendant-had-ties-to-san-ramon.
Gene By Gene. “A Busy Month for Gene By Gene, Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter, and Law Enforcement.” PR Newswire (Press Release), November 21, 2019. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-prnewswire/87801e92bb698e450c9c39d4ff33ed1b.
KPIX 5 Staff. “Update: Livermore Cold Case Rape Suspect Gregory Vien Dies from Injuries Sustained in Nail Gun Suicide Attempt.” KPIX 5 CBS News San Francisco Bay Area, November 21, 2020. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/11/21/update-livermore-cold-case-rape-suspect-gregory-vien-dies-from-injuries-sustained-in-nail-gun-suicide-attempt/.
Ruggiero, Angela. “Attorney of Released Sex Assault Suspect Calls Livermore Mayor’s Letter an ‘Attack’ on Judge.” Mercury News, May 7, 2020, last modified May 8, 2020. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/07/attorney-of-released-sex-assault-suspect-calls-livermore-mayors-letter-an-attack/.
Shapiro, Emily. “DNA on Baskin-Robbins Spoon Links Man to Sex Assaults from 22 Years Ago.” ABC News, November 19, 2019. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://abcnews.go.com/US/dna-baskin-robbins-spoon-links-man-sex-assaults/story?id=67138429.