DNA links man in California jail with 2018 attempted sex assault at Austin park
Editor's Note: This article discusses attempted sexual assault. Please return to the homepage if you are not comfortable with the topic. If you are in distress and need to speak with someone, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — DNA evidence linked a man currently incarcerated in California to a 2018 attempted sexual assault at an east Austin trail, arrest documents state.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Michael Rafael Perez was charged with attempted sexual assault related to the 2018 incident. Travis County court records also showed Perez faced a kidnapping charge related to the incident as well.
Documents said on Oct. 9, 2018, officers responded to a sex crimes urgent call in the 500 block of Vargas Road, which is in east Austin.
At the scene, the victim told police she was jogging in the area when she was grabbed from behind and dragged into the bushes beside the running trail. She told police she was able to escape her attacker and get help, the affidavit said.
Documents said the victim was “obviously distraught and had stains of mud on her pants and shirt … with leaves/grass stuck to the back side of her clothing and with scratches on both of her forearms.”
Court documents said the victim's shirt was swabbed for DNA where the suspect had touched.
In June 2024, the DNA profile produced by the lab revealed a possible match to Perez.
“Upon reviewing the characteristics of [Perez, he] matches the age, height, race and build of the suspect description given by the victim,” documents showed.
Further DNA collected from Perez through a search warrant matched the DNA collected in 2018.
“The results of the samples taken from Michael Rafael Perez matched DNA evidence which was taken from the victim's shirt,” court documents said.