The Dallas Police Department announced that detectives solved a sexual assault cold case that had remained unsolved for more than a decade through the Department of Justice's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).
Detective Elizabeth DeAngelis, who began leading Dallas' SAKI efforts in 2021, received a DNA match in February 2026 on one of the department's oldest cold cases. She partnered with Detective Sara Sheerin to reopen the investigation, reinterview victims and collect additional DNA evidence.
Detective Carlos Cardenas later assisted by interviewing a suspect and obtaining additional testimony.
Investigators combined the new evidence with DNA results and identified 35-year-old Jarvis Pierce as the suspect. The Dallas Police Fugitive Unit arrested Pierce in June 2026, and he was charged with sexual assault.
Detectives are continuing to investigate whether Pierce may be connected to other cold cases.
The department credited Detectives DeAngelis, Sheerin and Cardenas for their work, saying their efforts helped provide long-awaited justice for victims and highlighted the value of the SAKI program in solving cold cases.
