Man charged in 2 violent sexual assaults in 2013 and 2014 after DNA links cold cases
WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing
A Toronto man has been charged with two violent sexual assaults in Richmond Hill and Mississauga dating back to 2013 and 2014.
Forensic technology played a role in identifying Jaehyun "David" Cho, 32, Peel and York Regional Police told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. Cho was arrested and charged on Friday. He is due in Newmarket court on Thursday.
The first sexual assault happened on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 at about 2 a.m., Peel police Det.-Sgt. Mustafa Durgan told reporters.
A woman, 47, was assaulted after getting off a public transit bus in the area of South Service Road and Crestview Avenue in Mississauga. A man wearing a mask had a weapon, grabbed the woman and pulled her into a darkened area, where he sexually assaulted her.
"The offender threatened to kill her and her family if she reported the incident to police," Durgan said.
The second sexual assault happened on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 at about 12:30 a.m., police say
A girl, 17, was attacked after getting off a bus on at Yonge Street and Canyon Hill Avenue in Richmond Hill. She was approached by a man armed with a knife. The man demanded money, then dragged her about 50 metres into a field, where he sexually assaulted her.
The Centre for Forensic Sciences linked the two cases using DNA collected from both locations. In the fall of 2021, police got another DNA match from an unrelated investigation that led them to Cho.
Cho has been charged with two counts of each of the following: kidnapping; sexual assault with a weapon; uttering threats to cause death; disguise with intent; robbery; and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
He was also charged with one count of sexual assault to cause bodily harm.
HAPPENING NOW - Investigators from <a href="https://twitter.com/YRP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YRP</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PeelPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeelPolice</a> announcing the arrest of 32-year-old Jaehyun “David” Cho.<br><br>Cho is charged in connection with two extremely violent sexual assaults in Mississauga and Richmond Hill in 2013 and 2014.<br><br>Details: <a href="https://t.co/lWIRgfkPSo">https://t.co/lWIRgfkPSo</a> <a href="https://t.co/jw0nLvTJAl">pic.twitter.com/jw0nLvTJAl</a>
—@YRPPolice said there may be more victims and are urging anyone who may be one to come forward.
"There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence," a York police said in a news release.
Anyone with information to call their Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
With files from Greg Ross