Gustav Rayburn, 33, was arrested and charged on April 28, 2021 with a November 21, 2008 home invasion rape in Vincennes, Indiana.
The victim was then a 21-year-old Vincennes university student. She was sexually assaulted and battered by a man who broke into her ground floor apartment through an unsecured sliding glass door. He said he picked her because she was very small – only about 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. He slapped her and choked her, took several photographs of the assault, and left her for dead. She suffered significant physical injuries to her jaw and face.
The FGG investigation was conducted by Parabon Nanolabs in partnership with the Vincennes Police Department.
A few months after the attack, Ryburn’s brother went to the police and told them he thought his brother might have committed a rape. However, he declined to provide a DNA sample, and so there was no further investigation at that time.
Ryburn was convicted by a jury of burglary and criminal deviate conduct. He was sentenced on September 15, 2022 in Knox County Superior Court to two 40-year prison terms, to be served consecutively.
The victim, whose first name is Brittany, gave a victim impact statement, explaining how she was forced to leave university in order to recover from the attack, and described the years that it has taken for her to heal from the physical and emotional wounds caused by the assault.
This was Vincennes only unsolved violent crime.
Sources:
McBroom, DeSherion, and Denise Craig. “‘This Investigation Never Stopped’: Vincennes Police Hope New Technology is Key to Solving 12-Year-Old Sexual Assault Case.” My Wabash Valley, January 13, 2021. Last Modified January 14, 2021. Accessed May 3, 2023. https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/local-news/this-investigation-never-stopped-vincennes-police-hope-new-technology-is-key-to-solving-12-year-old-sexual-assault-case/.
McQuaid, Russ. “After 14 Years, Vincennes Rape Survivor Finally Sees Her Rapist Sentenced to prison for 80 Years.” Fox 59 News, September 14, 2022. Last modified September 15, 2022. Accessed May 3, 2023. https://fox59.com/indiana-news/i-am-not-the-same-woman-he-attacked-and-left-for-dead-14-years-later-vincennes-coed-sees-her-rapist-put-behind-bars/.
Web Desk. “Arrest Made in 2008 Vincennes Home Invasion, Sexual Assault Case.” WIBQ AM News, April 28, 2021. Accessed May 3, 2023. https://wibqam.com/2021/04/28/vincennes-pd-to-give-update-in-2008-unsolved-sexual-assault-case/.