LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — A 53-year-old Tennessee man has been arrested and charged in connection with a 1996 rape case in southern Indiana, after new DNA technology helped investigators identify him nearly three decades later, according to the Indiana State Police (ISP).

Sammy Wayne Riley, of La Follette, Tennessee, was taken into custody on Saturday, Nov. 1, by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and charged with one felony count of rape. Officials confirmed Riley formerly lived in Scott County, Indiana, where the assault occurred.

Case Dates Back to 1996 Rape in Austin, Indiana

In 1996, a woman reported being sexually assaulted after leaving the former Austin Lounge in Austin, Indiana, with two men. The victim provided detectives with a name she believed belonged to her attacker, but DNA testing at the time failed to produce a match.

For decades, the case remained unsolved — until recent advances in genetic genealogy and DNA analysis reopened the investigation earlier this year.

DNA Technology Leads Investigators to Riley

According to ISP, a new forensic DNA match made in June 2025 connected the sample from the 1996 case to a close genetic relative of Riley. After identifying him as a suspect, detectives learned he had recently returned to Scott County for a family matter.

Police obtained an arrest warrant on Oct. 29 and located Riley two days later. He was booked into the Scott County Jail on Saturday, where he remains in custody.

“This arrest demonstrates how advancements in forensic science continue to bring justice to victims, no matter how much time has passed,” said a spokesperson for the Indiana State Police.

Justice After Nearly 30 Years

The arrest marks one of the oldest cases to be solved through genetic genealogy in southern Indiana. Authorities said the victim has been notified of the arrest and thanked investigators for never giving up on the case.

Riley faces one felony count of rape and will appear in court later this month. Officials say additional charges could follow as prosecutors review the case evidence.

For updates on this and other cold case investigations across Indiana and Kentucky, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.