Austin, TX – Texas authorities have solved a decades-old cold case series, identifying a now-deceased Bastrop County man as the suspect in multiple sexual assaults on elderly women between 1997 and 2005.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Emory Earl McVay of Smithville was linked to at least three Bastrop County assaults through advanced DNA testing and genealogy research. McVay, who died in 2010, had a history of burglary and other criminal convictions in Central Texas.
The case was reopened in 2021 through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program, a federally funded effort aimed at resolving unsolved sexual assault cases nationwide. Bode Technologies and DPS crime labs conducted advanced DNA analysis on evidence collected from assaults in 1997, 2004, and 2005, finding a conclusive match to McVay in August 2025.
Investigators say McVay allegedly broke into homes of elderly women at night, sexually assaulting them before escaping undetected. Despite multiple early DNA samples and investigative leads, no match was found until recent advancements in forensic testing.
The Texas Rangers credited collaboration among Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, DPS Crime Laboratory, Smithville Police Department, and Bode Technologies for solving the long-standing cases. Authorities emphasized that continued cooperation and modern testing are key to bringing closure to victims’ families.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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