An undocumented immigrant now faces 30 charges in connection with a series of rapes spanning a decade in Marion County, Indiana. This breakthrough came after DNA collection by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) linked him to the crimes, as announced by authorities.
Leonel Catalan-Torreblanca is accused of numerous felonies that could lead to sentences of up to 50 years in prison, according to Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears, who spoke at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The alleged attacks date back to March 2013, with the latest incident reported in January 2024, marking over ten years of criminal activity.
For a long period, investigators from both local and federal agencies were aware that the assaults were related, thanks to matching DNA profiles obtained from the crime scenes. These profiles were linked within the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), yet they had not been matched to any known individual.
During a news conference held on Wednesday, officials presented the newly filed charges. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)
Authorities revealed that Catalan-Torreblanca had previously slipped through the system as his criminal record only included a misdemeanor DUI, which did not necessitate a DNA sample collection.
The breakthrough came recently when an ICE collection allowed Catalan-Torreblanca’s DNA profile to be entered into CODIS, triggering a match to the crime scenes.
Officials said ICE DNA collection led to the positive identification and charges. (John Moore/Getty Images)
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim O’Malley confirmed Catalan-Torreblanca was in the country illegally, though officials said they were “not entirely sure exactly where he’s from originally.”
The FBI expedited and confirmed the Catalan-Torreblanca’s identity on April 22, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit tracked him down and arrested him at a relative’s house within four hours.
“Incredible work out of @FBIIndianapolis — our FBI teams and partners used advanced DNA technology and our Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to charge the suspect,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a statement on X.
Catalan-Torreblanca is being held on a standard bond. It is unclear if ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against him.
It is unclear where and when the suspect entered the U.S. illegally. (Gregory Bull/Associated Press)
During the news conference, Mears praised the “incredible strength and resiliency” of the survivors who were asked to relive their trauma to assist detectives in bringing the charges forward.
Authorities said Catalan-Torreblanca may have lived near apartment complexes where the attacks took place, warning that there may be other victims or connected cases that lack DNA evidence.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
