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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For Charlotte authorities, it’s a first of its kind as officials use genealogy research to track down a man connected to a decades-old case of a 24-year-old woman who was raped in her home.

Importantly, this case is one in 500 sexual assault cold cases solved by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. And certainly won’t be the last.

Moreover, the case started in 1991. When a 24-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted by a man in her home. Located near Monroe Road in East Charlotte, officials say. The young woman received treatment at a nearby hospital.

According to CMPD, investigators obtained DNA evidence using the sexual assault kit along with more evidence gathered in the young woman’s home.

In fact, years later, officials discovered a DNA profile and entered it into the DNA database.

Officials were able to identify a man named Kevin Patrick McNamee, 59, who lives in Indian Trail, as a person of interest.

In addition, Charlotte Police were able to match McNamee’s DNA with the evidence collected many years prior.

Apart from this, they arrested him on multiple warrants, such as; First-Degree burglary, second-degree sex offense, kidnapping, and rape.

Furthermore, officials said, “McNamee’s criminal records include 19 separate charges for break-ins and burglaries that occurred between 1984 and 1990.”

Sgt. Darrel Price says, “This is the first time the unit has solved through genealogy research.”

As detectives worked with research labs that used databases where people voluntarily shared their genetic information.

CMPD’s Capt. Rob Dance, who worked on the case, expresses, “The closure we can bring to the victims and their families is rewarding work.” He compliments his fellow officers on their exceptional work for closing hundreds of cold cases left open for decades.