1984 Columbia rape suspect asks for change of judge
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A North Carolina man accused of a 1984 rape in Columbia asked for a change of judge on Monday.
James F. Wilson, 59, is charged with rape and first-degree assault. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. He was indicted by a grand jury on Friday.
Wilson, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was arrested on Oct. 27 in connection with the March 1984 rape and assault of a woman in northeast Columbia.
Boone County's Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson filed charges against Wilson on Oct. 25.
The case was reopened in 2020 for further investigation and the sexual assault kit was sent for DNA testing. CPD notified a possible family match to the suspect, where the suspect pool was narrowed down and was determined that Wilson lived in Columbia at the time of the incident.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation then became involved in the case and learned Wilson lived in North Carolina. The bureau did some digging and grabbed some of Wilson's trash and found a disposable razor with hair in the blades.
Wilson was brought to Missouri on Dec. 16. His first court appearance was Dec. 19.
Despite the arrest happening recently, Wilson's case will be tried under 1984 statutes. Johnson said the charges in 1984 were attempted murder or attempt to knowingly cause serious physical injury.
