DALLAS, Texas. - A decades-old sexual assault investigation has resulted in an arrest after Dallas police detectives used DNA evidence and renewed investigative efforts to identify a suspect through the U.S. Department of Justice's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
According to the Dallas Police Department, Detective Elizabeth DeAngelis began leading the department's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative in 2021. The federal program, known as SAKI, was created to help law enforcement agencies review previously untested sexual assault evidence and use DNA technology to solve cold cases.
DeAngelis, who previously served in the department's Vice and Human Trafficking units, focused on some of Dallas' oldest unsolved sexual assault investigations.
In February 2026, DeAngelis received notification that DNA from one of the department's cold cases had produced a match. After reviewing the original case file and evidence, she partnered with Detective Sara Sheerin to reopen the investigation.
The detectives reinterviewed the victim and collected additional DNA evidence to compare with evidence gathered during the original investigation.
After analyzing both the original and newly collected evidence, investigators identified 35-year-old Jarvis Pierce as the suspected offender.
Detective Carlos Cardenas then assisted the investigation by interviewing the suspect. Police said information developed during that interview, combined with the DNA evidence, helped detectives obtain an arrest warrant.
In June 2026, members of the Dallas Police Department Fugitive Unit located and arrested Pierce. He was charged with sexual assault. His bond was set at $100,000.
Investigators said they are continuing to examine other cold cases to determine whether Pierce may be connected to additional unsolved sexual assault investigations.
The Dallas Police Department recognized Detectives DeAngelis, Sheerin and Cardenas for their work in bringing the case to a resolution and continuing efforts to seek justice for victims of unsolved crimes.
