DNA evidence leads to conviction of Hagerstown man for 2004 rape

Najarred Theodore Walker was found guilty of first- and second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and second-degree assault

March 29, 2012

Walker

FREDERICK, Md. — DNA evidence and an unrelated criminal offense in Tennessee led to the conviction Thursday of a Hagerstown man for a rape in Frederick County eight years ago, according to the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office and Frederick Police Department.

A Frederick County Circuit Court jury deliberated for about one hour and 40 minutes before finding Najarred Theodore Walker, 28, guilty of first- and second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and second-degree assault, a state’s attorney’s office news release said.

Walker faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison when he is sentenced on May 8, the release said.
The incident occurred on the evening of Nov. 1, 2004, when a 16-year-old girl was attacked near Carroll Creek Bridge in Frederick, the state’s attorney’s office said. A man placed his hand over her mouth and threatened to kill her if she did not comply, the release said.

There was no suspect until March 4, 2011, when the Maryland State Police Forensics Division notified Frederick police it had a match with Walker for the 2004 rape on the Combined DNA Index System, a police release said.

Walker had been convicted of an offense in Tennessee for which he submitted a DNA sample to the database.

At the time of the rape, Walker lived in the 100 block of Willowdale Drive in Frederick, police said.
Frederick Detective Jay Levine determined Walker was living in Hagerstown in March 2011 and was also wanted in Tennessee for a violation of probation, police said. Levine contacted Hagerstown police about the investigation.

Walker turned himself in at the Hagerstown Police Department on April 11, 2011, for the probation violation and was then charged with the rape, police said.

At the time of his arrest, Walker had an address on the 100 block of North Potomac Street in Hagerstown, court records said.

Damon Burman, a Maryland State Police DNA analyst, testified at Walker’s two-day trial that the DNA sample from the rape was unique to Walker, prosecutors said.

Judge Theresa Adams ordered a presentence investigation prior to Walker’s sentencing in May, prosecutors said.

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