Michigan man to be charged in 2000 rape case in State College. DNA aided in arrest
Centre County prosecutors said Tuesday they are prepared to charge a Michigan man with the 2000 rape of woman at a golf course in a case aided by advancements in DNA technology.
University police believe Kurt A. Rillema, 51, is responsible for the rape of a 19-year-old at knifepoint while she jogged near the 18th hole at Penn State’s Blue Course, Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Sean McGraw said.
Investigators do not believe it was the only time the avid golfer and businessman attacked a woman at a golf course.
Rillema was arrested Monday at his Michigan home by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office on charges that accused him of raping a woman in 1999 at Twin Lakes Golf Club, about 30 miles north of Detroit.
University police detective and lead investigator Nicholas Sproveri, detective Rob Ruggiero and State College police detective Stephen Bosak assisted in the arrest.
“Victims of violent crimes, like rape, can never forget that terrible moment,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said in a statement. “It is incumbent on us to never give up on finding perpetrators of these crimes and bring them to justice. With new technology and investigative capabilities, sometimes we can close cases that have been open for years, if not decades. That is what happened in this case. We will never give up.”
McGraw said he was unable to disclose any statements Rillema may have made during his arrest. He was denied bond and is detained at the Oakland County Jail. It was not immediately clear if he had a defense lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
About 20 university police officers were involved with the investigation over the years. The investigative file is “fairly slim,” McGraw said.
The alleged rape took place in an isolated area, there were fewer surveillance cameras and no witnesses. The amount of data that could be collected from cellphones pales in comparison to what investigators can retrieve more than decades later.
Rillema, police wrote in an affidavit, dragged the woman into a wooded area, punched her in the stomach and told her to disrobe before he raped her and fled.
What remained behind was his DNA that matched evidence collected from the alleged rape in Michigan, university police wrote in an affidavit.
Investigators knew of the match since 2004, but didn’t know whose it was until they entered it into a genealogy database. Sproveri reopened the investigation in July 2021.
The use of genetic genealogy — while not without ethical and digital privacy concerns — came to prominence in April 2018 when detectives announced they made an arrest in the decades-old Golden State killer case by tracing DNA left at crime scenes back to a suspect through his relatives.
The process led police to believe one of three brothers were responsible for the attack. A plastic foam cup gave investigators the break they waited more than 20 years for, McGraw said.
Officers surreptitiously retrieved a discarded cup that Rillema used in January, McGraw said. Results returned in March showed the DNA left on the cup matched the evidence collected from the alleged rapes.
The woman, McGraw said, is “very eager to assist the investigation.”
Rillema has no criminal history, Bouchard said during a press conference. A press release from the sheriff’s office identified Rillema as the owner of a construction company.
Neither Bouchard nor McGraw were able to offer a definitive answer when asked if they believe Rillema is responsible for other sexual assaults.
“Who knows if there’s other victims that are out there. We know a lot of sexual assault victims don’t make a report. They’re scared; they’re fearful. A lot of things hold them back,” Bouchard said. “If you are a victim of a similar circumstance — of rape on a golf course or some kind of rape that matches what we just talked about — ... please let us know.”
Centre Safe Executive Director Jennifer Pencek said believing those who say they’ve been subjected to sexual violence is one of the most supportive things people can do. It may encourage would-be accusers to come forward or seek treatment.
Some are ready to disclose the alleged abuse immediately, while it may take decades for others to feel comfortable.
“No matter the age that someone is and no matter the gender, sexual assault is something that’s so incredibly traumatic and stays with someone forever,” Pencek said. “That’s not to say there can’t be healing. That’s not to say that someone can’t have an amazing, wonderful life after that. It’s just a piece of their lived experience.”
It’s unclear when Rillema may return to Centre County. Prosecutors have discussed the sequence of prosecution with authorities in Michigan, but no decision was made as of Tuesday, McGraw said.
A probable cause conference is set for April 27 in Michigan.
“When our process is done, I’m sure they very much want to get their hands on him,” Bouchard said.
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 4:47 PM.