Lloyd Wendell Ailes, 58, was arrested on December 9, 2021, for the January 9, 2006, rape of a student at the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio. The suspect wore a mask throughout most of the attack, but the victim was able to see her attacker’s face long enough for a composite sketch to be prepared. After the sexual assault, the attacker took $60 from the victim’s purse. A DNA sample was obtained but produced no leads.
The FGG investigation was conducted by Parabon Nanolabs. The genealogical research was particularly complex in this case due to a non-paternal event. Ailes’ father was a man with whom Ailes’ mother had been having an extra-marital relationship, and this was unknown to all parties involved.
Ailes is facing charges in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, where he has been held on a $775,000 bond. He has been indicted by a Grand Jury on charges of rape, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary, with the use of a firearm.
A similar sexual assault took place in March of 2006 in nearby Fayette County, Indiana. That case remains open, but Ailes’ DNA profile has been linked to DNA evidence collected in that case, as well. Prosecutors state that they continue to investigate that assault, but no charges have been laid as of the time of writing.
Ailes’ attorneys challenged the DNA evidence, alleging that there are technical deficiencies in the warrant used to obtain Ailes’ DNA sample. They alleged that the affiant and the person who signed the warrant are different, and therefore all DNA evidence should be excluded.
Ailes pled guilty in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas ¬to the charges in early May of 2022. In July of 2022, Ailes was sentenced to 17 years in prison for two counts of rape with a firearm enhancement. He will serve 10 years concurrently for two counts each of aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery.
In January of 2023, Ailes’ appeal was denied by the 12th District Court of Appeals, who found that Ailes had a fair trial, and there were no errors in the proceedings.
Sources:
Goffinet, Jared. “DNA Leads to Man’s Arrest in 2006 Miami University Rape Investigation.” Fox 19 News, December 10, 2021. https://www.fox19.com/2021/12/10/dna-leads-mans-arrest-2006-miami-university-rape-investigation/?outputType=apps.
Luperon, Alberto. “Man Sentenced to 17 years in Prison for Raping University Student After DNA Linked Him to 2006 Cold Case.” Law & Crime, July 5, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2022. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/man-sentenced-to-17-years-in-prison-for-raping-university-student-after-dna-linked-him-to-2006-cold-case/.
McCrabb, Rick, and Lauren Pack. “Lloyd Ailes Case: Sentencing in June for Man Guilty in Miami University Sexual Assault.” Journal-News, May 13, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://www.journal-news.com/news/man-faces-63-years-in-prison-after-pleading-guilty-to-2006-rape-of-miami-university-student/O275WW57UFAWRM6NW4IKBRWENY/
Pack, Lauren. “Bond Set for Man Arrested in 2006 Miami University Rape Case Involving DNA Genealogy Tracing.” Journal-News, December 10, 2021. Accessed December 11, 2021. https://www.journal-news.com/news/dna-and-genealogy-investigation-lead-to-arrest-in-2006-rape-of-miami-student/UWPJYN4XFVBKRN3LLVJBW2GFJY/.
Pack, Lauren. “Conviction Stands for Man in 2006 Oxford Rape Who Was Discovered Through DNA Tracing.” Journal News, January 25, 2023. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://www.journal-news.com/crime/conviction-stands-for-man-in-2006-oxford-rape-who-was-discovered-through-dna-tracing/LTZF2TDDUNBIVDPETSIAO5HKFE/.
Pack, Lauren. “DNA Search Warrant Flawed in 2006 Miami University Rape Case, Defense Says.” Dayton Daily News, March 2, 2022. Accessed March 5, 2022. https://www.daytondailynews.com/crime/dna-search-warranted-flawed-in-2006-miami-university-rape-case-defense-says/M64GKO65WZB3VAFBRXZSTPPWXE/.
State v. Ailes, 2023-Ohio-184.
Wheaton, Courtney. “Genealogy Sites, DNA Lead to Arrest in 2006 Rape of a Miami University Student.” Local 12 News, December 10, 2021. Accessed December 11, 2021. https://local12.com/news/local/genealogy-sites-dna-lead-to-arrest-in-2006-rape-of-a-miami-university-student-cincinnati-ohio-lloyd-ailes-gun-burglary-robbery-indiana.