Decades-Old Rape Case: Suspect Released on Bail Amid DNA Evidence
A 69-year-old man, Michael Martin, who is alleged to have raped an 81-year-old woman, Jessie Grace Lauder, four decades ago, has been granted bail, as he was not deemed an unacceptable risk to the community.
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Martin was 26 years old when he purportedly attempted to rape Lauder in her Newport home in 1981. He is also accused of returning to her home in 1983 and raping her again. Last week, Martin was arrested in Hoppers Crossing and charged with multiple offenses, including attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, rape, and common assault, after which he applied for bail.
The decision to grant bail was handed down on Thursday morning. Despite the severity of the alleged offenses, the court could not establish that Martin was an unacceptable risk to the community.
Martin was a neighbor of Lauder, living about 45 meters across the road from her home during his childhood and later moving about 200 meters away after his marriage, as reported by sexual crimes squad Detective Richard Kelly.
According to Kelly, in September 1981, Lauder heard a loud noise at the back of her house and then found Martin standing at her bedroom door with a knife. Martin, reportedly wearing gloves and underwear over his head, demanded $10 for sex before attempting to rape her. He allegedly told her not to call the police as he left the premises.
The second alleged assault took place in July 1983, when Lauder heard glass breaking at the front of her house before being confronted by a man. Martin is accused of raping Lauder and warning her not to report the incident as she had done previously.
DNA evidence from the two alleged attacks was preserved until advancements in DNA testing allowed for further examination. In 2022, the samples were tested, and a familial match led investigators to Martin. He was not arrested and charged until January 24, due to delays in comparing Martin’s DNA with the sample.
Martin is expected to return to court in April.
