DNA tests lead to arrest of suspected serial rapist from Ogden

Mark Douglas Burns. Photo: Davis County

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 25, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An Ogden man was arrested Wednesday after a DNA investigation linked him to nine sexual assaults in Weber and Davis counties, and in Wyoming.

Ogden resident Mark Douglas Burns, 69, was arrested Wednesday at his residence.

The rapes, which were especially brutal, police say, began in 1991, and ended in 2001, when Burns’ career as a long-haul trucker ended, the statement says.

The rapes so far attributed to Burns occured in the following locations and years:

  • Rock Springs, Wyoming 1991
  • Riverdale City, 1992
  • Ogden, Utah 1993
  • Clearfield City, 1994
  • Clearfield City, 1995
  • Laramie, Wyoming 1996
  • Layton, Utah 1997
  • Clearfield, Utah 2000
  • Clearfield, Utah 2001

A Clearfield Police Department statement shares some details:

“Each of the above cases share a similar modus operandi, such as the victim’s being bound, repeated sexual assaults over an extended period of time, smell of alcohol beverage, victims living in apartment communities, suspect utilizing sliding glass doors, the use of a firearm or knife, and other personal characteristics and crime scene evidence that will not be released at this time,” the statement says.

“It is believed that this suspect has committed additional crimes in Clearfield, as well as in surrounding jurisdictions, or even states.”

In May of 2015, details about some of the rapes then believed linked were shared in an episode of the TNT show “Cold Justice: Sex Crimes.'”

“After the television show was aired, the Clearfield Police Department continued to pursue every viable lead in order to solve these heinous crimes,” the department’s statement says.

“As technology advanced, the Clearfield Police Department contacted a genetic genealogist, Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter, who was able to study the previously collected DNA evidence to discover a potential familial DNA relationship.

“Over the past several months, Clearfield City Detectives have investigated several viable leads that were the result of the work performed by Dr. Rae-Venter,” the statement says.

“Recently, Clearfield City Detectives were able to identify and interview an individual who shared common DNA characteristics with the suspect. Subsequently, detectives were able to identify a possible suspect. The DNA of the suspect was tested and confirmed to match the DNA warrant profile.”

The DNA evidence concludes that “Burns committed the brutal attacks in the nine previous mentioned cases,” the statement says.

Multiple law enforcement agencies in Utah and Wyoming are working together on the investigation, the statement says.

“We are mindful of the victims and families and extend our sincere appreciation for their continued faith and support throughout the investigations,” the Clearfield Police Department statement says. “We hope that they can now find some form of closure to the horrific attacks and abuse that occurred so many years ago.”

Charges filed against Burns so far include:

  • Eight counts of aggravated sexual assault
  • Six counts of aggravated kidnapping
  • Two counts of aggravated burglary
  • Aggravated robbery

More information will be released Thursday morning at a news conference, the statement said.

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