Trial begins for Columbia man accused of 2002 rape

The trial for a Columbia man accused in a 2002 rape started Tuesday with jury selection.

Jackie Jennings was indicted by a grand jury in 2017.

According to the probable cause statement, the victim was leaving a downtown bar when she was approached by an unknown man who offered to give her a ride.

Police said the victim declined and got in her car and drove back to her residence. The woman began to feel ill and thought it was odd because she did not drink a lot of alcohol earlier that night, court documents say.

The victim told police she laid down and when she woke up, there was a man standing in her room.

Police at the time said the woman could not identify the suspect and the investigation didn’t produce the evidence to find a suspect.

In March 2017, the Missouri State Highway Patrol compared the DNA profile from the case to an offender DNA profile belonging to Jennings. Police said Jennings matched the description the victim gave of the suspect.

Officers said they contacted the victim, who said she would still like Jennings prosecuted.

The trial is being held at the Boone County Courthouse.