Crime analysis technology has led to the arrest of a suspected serial rapist who preyed on victims outside Jacksonville apartment complexes 25 years ago.
Jason Leonard Blount, 52, of Orlando was arrested July 1 on three counts of sexual battery from two cases in 2000 and one in 2002. His bail has been at $750,000, according to jail records.
Each of the arrest reports is heavily redacted for privacy and investigative concerns, and only one references a specific location, but here are some of the details.
The assaults that were reported to police began with a March 13, 2000, jogger in the Baymeadows Circle area where the victim ran on a regular basis. While jogging around the Baymedows Golf Course at about 9:45 p.m., the victim said an unknown man approached. When the victim turned around and asked “What are you doing,” the man said “Shut up” and began the assault.
When done, he walked back to the street and told the victim to start jogging. The victim ran and contacted the Sheriff’s Office, and a sexual assault examination was conducted and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
A month later on April 13 another attack was reported after midnight. The victim advised being in the parking lot of apartment complex loading up a vehicle for a trip, when a man approached and asked for the time. He took the victim to the tennis courts where he began the assault.
Once done, he escorted the victim back to the car and then walked away from the area quickly. The victim immediately locked the car doors and then ran to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
The third linked attack was reported on Sept. 4, 2002, at an apartment. The victim advised going to a gas station across the street about 9:15 p.m. and returning to the apartment and returned 15 minutes later. On the victim shut the door, a man immediately opened it and entered.
The man asked if he could use the telephone in which the victim responded “Why didn’t you knock?” He asked again, and when the victim attempted to walk away, the assault began. As soon as he left, the victim called the Sheriff’s Office.
The DNA from all three cases recently matched Blount’s profile in a national database.
Blount’s arraignment is scheduled for July 23. He is being represented by the Public Defender’s Office, which has a policy not to comment on pending cases.
Anyone with information about possible additional cases can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: DNA links Florida man to sexual assaults in Jacksonville 25 years ago