The woman said the suspect offered her a ride in his truck before raping her in a remote area of Mayer.
MESA, Ariz. — A Mesa man has been taken into custody after DNA evidence allegedly connected him to the sexual assault of a woman in Yavapai County.
The sheriff’s office said Friday that 36-year-old Brian J. Hernandez was taken into custody this month for allegedly raping a 47-year-old woman in August 2023.
The victim told investigators she had accepted a ride from a man driving a large water truck and dressed in construction apparel. The man allegedly drove her out to a remote area, assaulted her and then let the woman go.
The woman immediately called the sheriff’s office after returning home and DNA evidence from the assault was collected.
Investigators were able to identify the suspect through a national DNA database. Investigators then searched Hernandez’s residence in Mesa …
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