TYLER, Texas — DNA evidence has led to the arrest of a man accused of raping two women in Tyler nearly 20 years ago.
According to the Tyler Police Department, Jimmie Earl Gamble Jr, 40, of Smith County, was charged Wednesday on two counts of sexual assault. He remains in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $600,000.
Tyler police said they received DNA evidence from the Texas Department Public Safety led to identifying Gamble as the suspect in two separate rapes of two women in 2005. Warrants for his arrest were then issued.
"It's an amazing thing. DNA, it just keeps checking in checking and checking. And then when it hits, we act on it," said Tyler Police Department spokesperson Andy Erbaugh said. "And there's still some investigation to do on it. Obviously, some it's been a while it's been a long time coming for this case. And but even though there's just a little more to do on it, and we're very, very excited that we can get some justice to these victims."
The police department then thanked the Texas Rangers, the DPS lab, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, CODIS Familial Search, the Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for their assistance in bringing this case to a conclusion.