Cigarette butt helps solve cold case and leads to arrest

A cigarette butt and genetic genealogy linked a suspect to two alleged child sexual assaults from 2000 and 2003, and police arrested 58-year-old David James Zimbrick, who is being held on $1 million bond.

Police arrested 58-year-old David James Zimbrick in Raytown, Missouri, in connection with alleged sexual assaults of children in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2000 and 2003. Officials said a cigarette butt recovered at the scene in 2000, combined with DNA from a later incident and recent genetic genealogy testing, helped identify a suspect. Detectives and a testing laboratory were credited for the work that linked the evidence. Zimbrick is being held on $1 million bond. Known details: - David James Zimbrick, 58, was arrested in Raytown, Missouri, in connection with incidents reported in Lawrence, Kansas. - The two investigated incidents are reported to have occurred in 2000 and 2003 and involved children. - Police reported that a cigarette butt collected in 2000 and DNA from the 2003 case were linked through laboratory testing and genetic genealogy methods. - Officials said investigators are reviewing other possible cases but have not reported evidence tying Zimbrick to additional victims. Summary: The preserved evidence and new genetic testing led investigators to arrest a suspect and connect two decades-old cases. Officials credited detectives and the testing lab for the identification. Undetermined at this time.