DNA links rapes in Texas, Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A serial rapist blamed for terrorizing Albuquerque women in the 1990s and early 2000 has resurfaced in Texas.

The one man raped 11 women near the University of New Mexico campus during his time in Albuquerque, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. And now that man's DNA has connected the Albuquerque crimes with the 2006 rape of the University of Texas student in Austin, Texas.

Austin detectives believe their suspect is the man seen in a new sketch made public as part of the investigation.

Investigators collected the man's DNA from six of the Albuquerque rape scenes as well as in Texas.

Austin detectives said the suspect sedated the woman by placing a chemically soaked rag over her mouth until she lost consciousness. The same technique was used in the Albuquerque rapes, according to police.

"We're worried this is going to be the new location this guy is going to set up in," Detective Scott Stanfield of the Austin Police Department told KRQE News 13.

Albuquerque investigators dubbed their suspect Ether Man after the anesthetic used to sedate surgery patients. Since most of the women were so drugged, only one got a good look at him

Still Albuquerque prosecutors used the DNA to indict the rapist as John Doe to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring on the crimes.

Last month she helped detectives create the new composite sketch and a second sketch showing how the man may have aged.

"In order to get this individual into custody and stop his reign of terror that has not only hit our community but has also crossed state lines, somebody out there has a piece of information that will close this case for us," Albuquerque Police Department spokesman John Walsh said.

Austin detectives said they are investigating one more case that may be linked to the Ether Man. However they haven't tied him to a spree of attacks like those in Albuquerque.