On June 23, 2023, Michael Anthony Woodhall, 51, appeared in Perth Magistrates court for the cold case rapes of four women in the 1990s in Perth, Western Australia.
The first victim, a 49-year-old woman, was attacked on March 19, 1995 while walking in the Carine park at about 8:30 in the evening. She was threatened with a knife, and then dragged into the bushes and sexually assaulted.
On March 19, 1996, a 19-year-old was attacked in her home at around 3:00 am by an unknown male who had entered her residence. He also threatened her with a knife and then sexually assaulted her.
The third victim was an 18-year-old student who was attacked around 2:00 am on February 4, 1998, in a student dormitory in Crawley. She, too, had come home to find an intruder in her dorm room who threatened her with a knife and then sexually assaulted her.
The fourth victim, aged 22, was attacked by an intruder who entered her home around 2:30 am on June 14, 1998.
Court proceedings indicate that a DNA profile of the suspect was taken from the shoulder of one of the victims, and from the clothing of another.
The FGG investigation was conducted by unknown forensic genetic genealogists in partnership with the Western Australia Police Force. There is currently no information on how the initial and final confirmations were made. Investigators have stated that the genealogical investigation encompassed more than 3500 individuals, and took about two years to complete.
Woodhall is facing numerous charges, including 14 counts of aggravated sexual penetration, 5 counts of indecent assault, uttering death threats, burglary, and deprivation of liberty, in the Perth Magistrates Court. On June 22, 2023, he was denied bail on the grounds that he may be a flight risk. He normally resides in Indonesia, and had only recently relocated to Perth with his Indonesian wife.
Sources:
ABC News Australia. “VIDEO: Police Arrest Michael Anthony Woodhall at His Perth Home.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, June 23, 2023. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-23/police-arrest-michael-anthony-woodhall-at-his/102518824.
Bunch, Aaron. “Michael Anthony Woodhall Charged with Raping Four Women Across Perth in the 1990s.” The West Australian, Perth Now, June 23, 2023. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12226421/Man-charged-historic-assaults.html.
Menagh, Joanna. “Michael Anthony Woodhall Charged with Raping Four Women Across Perth in the 1990s.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, June 22, 2023. Last modified June 23, 2023. Accessed June 26, 2023.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-23/michael-anthony-woodhall-perth-accused-sexual-assault-court/102516552.