A former Border Patrol agent, 57-year-old John Daly III, is in custody after the Mesa Police Department, using DNA technology, identified him as the East Valley Rapist. The arrest comes 22 years after his first known offense.
Between July 1999 – October 2001, Mesa Police investigated a series of sexual assaults that occurred in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Bisbee. The eight cases were connected by similar suspect behavior and three of the cases (Mesa, Gilbert, and Bisbee) were matched by DNA.
No viable leads were developed at that time, according to police.
With the utilization of SAKI (Sexual Assault Kit Initiative) funding, in February 2021, investigative efforts produced the name of John Daly III. A history check showed that John had residency near each of the sexual assaults at the time they occurred.
In April 2021, DNA linked Daly to two of the sexual assaults; one Mesa and one Gilbert case.
Officers from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Bisbee Police Departments investigated these cases jointly, making connections, conducting interviews, and collecting evidence. The FBI assisted in recent months by providing analytical, investigative, and support resources. Border Patrol cooperated and supported this investigation.
In conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force and multiple other agencies, Daly was taken into custody in Sierra Vista, AZ on May 4, 2021. Daly was booked for charges related to three of the eight cases.
Bisbee Police Department will submit charges for their case and the other four cases require additional investigative efforts prior to charging.