Share this @internewscast.com

Investigators in Atlanta revealed the identity of the man they say was responsible for the 1995 rape and murder of 14-year-old Nacole Smith as well as another rape almost 10 years later.

Acqunellia Smith, Nacole’s mother, told WGCL anchor Karyn Greer, who had been working the case since it happened, last week that a detective had phoned her to say DNA evidence had given them the suspect, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Atlanta Police said at they time they expected to reveal more information this week.

Investigators talked about the case at a news conference on Tuesday but did not reveal the suspect’s name. They said he had died in August 2021 from kidney and liver failure, WGCL reported. After the news conference, however, they said the suspect was 49-year-old Kelvin Arnold and that he had been in hospice care at the time of his death.

Atlanta Police reopened the case in 2002 and got a break in 2004, when a 13-year-old girl was raped in East Point and escaped. She gave detectives a description of the suspect, and DNA from her case matched that from Nacole Smith’s. No suspect was revealed at the time, but later, genetic genealogy led to Arnold.

Nacole’s mother spoke at the press conference, saying that learning the identity of the man who killed her daughter was bittersweet.

“I never imagined this person would be deceased, so many unanswered questions I had for him that I can never ask and get answers, but I would never say it was closure for me because I will live for this pain for the rest of my life,” she said.

Betty Brown, who was the 13-year-old attack in 2004, also spoke at the press conference. She and Acqunellia Smith have become close over the years.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast

[Featured image: Nacole Smith/handout]

Source: This post first appeared on https://www.crimeonline.com/feed/

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Diddy Faced a Different Controversy Long Before His Sex Trafficking Trial

On the day Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on charges of transportation…

Ten Masked Intruders Armed with Machetes Disrupt Party

A teenage boy was allegedly slashed with a machete after ten people…

Prosecutor Accuses “Deal with the Devil” as Kohberger Found Guilty in Court Outburst

In a recent court appearance, Bryan Kohberger confessed to the murder of…

Police: Woman Used Insect Foggers to Remove Family from Apartment

Ervyana Davis (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department via WZTV). A Tennessee woman is…

Alachua Resident Charged with Sexual Assault on Homeless Woman

Staff report ALACHUA, Fla. – Taverous Tywon Lorenza Williams, aged 47, residing…

Police: Suspect in murder case attempts to hire inmate to eliminate witnesses

Inset: DeAndre Williams (Milwaukee County Jail). Background: Williams during his first hearing…

Judge Delivers Sentence for Man Who Used Extension Cord to Discipline Stepchildren

Lerenzo Legardy (Dona Ana County Jail). A man from New Mexico, who…

Woman Assaulted with Rock and Screwdriver and Raped, Says DA

Inset: Daysnel Hernandez (Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area near the underpass…

Couple Arrested Following Nightclub Incident Involving Gun Threat

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, law enforcement apprehended Juan…