James Ingersoll, 53, was sentenced to life in prison with parole possibility plus 25 consecutive years for first-degree rape and burglary from a 1994 Charlotte attack.
Case Background
On June 17, 1994, Ingersoll entered the victim’s home through an unlocked back door while she slept, assaulting her after she fought back against his weapon threat. She escaped by jumping from her bedroom window, reached a neighbor, and called 911; a sexual assault kit collected semen but yielded no suspect then.
Breakthrough via DNA
The case went cold until Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police’s Cold Case Unit revisited evidence in 2018, developing a male DNA profile analyzed through forensic genetic genealogy in 2022. This led to Ingersoll, confirmed by follow-up testing; the now-70s survivor testified alongside original responders.
