Man charged in Cape Girardeau rape case after DNA testing

For the second time, Missouri's program of testing the DNA of all convicted felons has led to new charges in a Cape Girardeau County rape case, Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle announced Saturday. Samuel C. Taylor, 28, faces charges of rape and robbery in the March 12, 2004, attack on a woman on South Frederick Street. In the attack, a 58-year-old woman was approached at about 1:30 a.m. by a man who offered to sell her drugs, Swingle said in a prepared statement. After declining the offer, the woman told police she was struck from behind and beaten unconscious, Swingle said. When she awoke, her jaw was broken in two places, she had injuries to her face, ankle and neck and her purse and panties were missing, Swingle said. No suspects were charged until the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Taylor's DNA, collected following his 2006 conviction on felony charges of failing to pay child support, matched sperm found on the victim's clothes, Swingle said.

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