California investigators have announced the identification of a former US Navy diver as a serial rapist responsible for at least six home invasion rapes across four states from 1982 to 1997.
Sean Patrick McNulty, the suspect, ended his life in 1997 in Emmett Township, Michigan, following accusations tied to a 1993 rape case in Bloomington, Indiana, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. He was 38 years old at the time.
The district attorney’s office revealed that through years of investigation, McNulty, originally from California, was linked to two unsolved home invasion rapes during the early 1980s. Further DNA analysis connected him to four additional cases: the Indiana incident where he was already a suspect, a 1994 rape in Meridian Township, Michigan, another in 1995 in Birmingham, Michigan, and a final one in 1997 in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s suspected that there could be additional victims, as McNulty had lived or visited locations such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia, and the Philippines.
VCSAKI Identifies Serial Rapist Brings Long Awaited Answers to Victims 1 by kc wildmoon
The district attorney’s office outlined the investigation process, indicating that DNA from the sexual assault kits gathered after the 1982 and 1983 attacks was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in 2024, revealing matches between these cases. The DNA also matched the rapist from the Michigan and Ohio attacks, though the perpetrator’s identity remained unknown.
Working with investigators in those locales, detectives used investigative genealogy and identified McNulty as a suspect.
The breakthrough came from the 1993 rape case in Indiana. Bloomington detectives had gathered biological evidence from the suspect, which was confirmed to match perfectly with the DNA from the other five cases.
Detectives are still tracking his movements. He graduated Buena High School in Ventura in 1977 and the following year was arrested for making obscene phone calls to a woman. From 1979 until 1992, he was a US Navy diver, and was married in 1988 until his divorce just prior to his death.
Investigators attempted to speak with his ex-wife but she declined.
Detectives were able to locate only one of the two Ventura victims of McNulty’s rapes. She told them that she had “waited 40 years” for closure. They also spoke with the Indiana victim, who said that she was “grateful after all these years you didn’t give up.”
The other victims were contacted by the respective investigating agencies.
“I am proud of the dedicated work of our Forensic Services Bureau and the strong collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners that made these identifications possible,” said Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff. “The results show the importance of testing every kit and pursuing every lead, no matter how old or how long it takes. While nothing can erase the pain and trauma these victims endured, I hope today’s announcement brings them a measure of closure.”
The DA’s office asked anyone with information to contact District Attorney Investigator Yumi Kirk at (805) 477-1638 or at yumi.kirk@venturacounty.gov.
