FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne police say DNA evidence from a decadeds-old rape and assault finally led to the suspect being arrested.
David Kerner is now 56 and has been charged with the rape that happened on May 29, 1997 in Schoaff Park. Kerner is in the Allen County Jail after detectives arrested him in Indianapolis, where he now lives.
He is charged with rape, criminal deviant conduct, battery with a deadly weapon, and a misdemeanor battery charge.
The FWPD released the following:
On May 29th, 1997 at 9:45pm the Fort Wayne Police Department received a report of a rape that occurred in Shoaff Park. Officers met with the victim and began the investigation. The victim stated that she was on a trail near the boat ramp when she was grabbed from behind by an unknown suspect. She was then dragged into the weeds, where the suspect raped her and beat her at knifepoint. After the rape, the victim was seen at Parkview hospital and the Sexual assault treatment center. A sex kit was collected and was submitted to the Indiana State Police Laboratory. On March 12th, 2025, the Fort Wayne Police Department received a CODIS hit from the Indiana State Police. The hit identified the suspect in this case as David Mark Kerner, formerly of Fort Wayne. After receiving the CODIS hit, this case was assigned to Detective Roy Sutphin of the Crimes Against Persons Section (CAPS).
Today, Detective Roy Sutphin and Detective Charles Volz went to Indianapolis, and took Kerner into custody for several charges. He was transported back to Fort Wayne and was taken to the Allen County Jail. The Fort Wayne Police Department thanks the Sexual Assault Treatment Center, the Indiana State Police and the Indianapolis Metro Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
Suspect Arrested: David Mark Kerner, 56 years of age.
Preliminary Charges:
Count 1: Rape, a class A felony
Count 2: Criminal Deviant Conduct, a class A felony
Count 3: Battery with a deadly weapon, a class C felony
Count 4: Battery, a class A misdemeanor
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