![DNA Leads Police to Arrest a Maine Man for a 1996 Cold Case](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2022/11/attachment-Untitled-design-2022-11-10T075448.829.jpg?w=980&q=75)
DNA Leads Police to Arrest a Maine Man for a 1996 Cold Case
A Gouldsboro man is facing charges for a 26-year-old cold case sexual assault in Hancock County.
Who is the Suspect?
After so many years, you have to wonder if the victim, in this case, thought it would never get solved. But modern DNA technology is amazing and is being used to identify suspects in cold cases every day. In Maine, DNA has led police to arrest Jason Follette of Gouldsboro and charge him with gross sexual assault.
![WQCB Brewer Maine logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WQCBFM.png?w=100)
Where Was the Sexual Assault Reported to Have Happened?
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says it was in August of 1996 when a 21-year-old woman reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted in her Hancock apartment. Detectives investigated and DNA evidence was collected at the scene. A DNA profile was developed, but it wasn't enough to identify a suspect at that time. That suspect was listed as a 'John Doe' and the case went unsolved for more than two decades.
How Did 26-Year-Old DNA Send Police to a Suspect?
Just recently, the DNA sample was tested by Othram, Inc. which is a company that specializes in forensic genealogy to resolve unsolved crimes. With the modern advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy, the results pointed toward a suspect. That evidence combined with the investigation by Maine State Police detectives identified Follette as the suspect.
The 56-year-old was arrested at a Gouldsboro pier without incident and transported to the Hancock County Jail. Officials say more charges are possible in this case.
16 Unsolved Homicides in Maine from the Past 20 Years
The Scary Stories of 10 Maine Multiple Murderers & Their Victims
More From WQCB Brewer Maine
![Bangor Police Say 10+ More Arrested in the Camp Hope Raid](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-341.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![A Man’s Body Has Been Recovered From Maine’s Casco Bay](http://townsquare.media/site/543/files/2021/08/attachment-RS29739_GettyImages-914796764-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bangor Police Arrest a Woman in a Stolen Dump Truck from Vermont](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Lyndon-Vermont.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Maine Officials Identify 2 People Who Died in Trenton Plane Crash](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Plane-Crash-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bangor Police Arrest 2 at Camp Hope Unhoused Encampment](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-ture-fram.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![AI Ranks the 10 Best Places to Vacation in Maine](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T105846.299.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Drugs and Guns: Milford Woman and Two Men Indicted](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-17.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Maine Man Pleads Guilty For His Role in the U.S. Capitol Breach](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-15.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Maine Man Who Killed His Girlfriend in 2022 Sentenced](http://townsquare.media/site/494/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-24T113935.874.jpg?w=980&q=75)