Kurt Alan Rillema: DNA on coffee cup helps cops nab Michigan man accused of raping 2 women 24 years ago
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised.
OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A 51-year-old man, Kurt Alan Rillema, was reportedly arrested for two violent rapes on golf courses that took place 24 years ago after detectives matched the crime scene DNA to his coffee cup. He was arraigned on April 18 in connection with a 1999 rape at the Twin Lakes Golf Club in Michigan, and another in 2000 at a Penn State University golf course.
On September 6, 1999, a 22-year-old woman was working at a food stand at the Twin Lakes Golf Club in Oakland Township when a man entered through an employee-only door and raped her, according to Law&Crime. As per the outlet, the suspect fled, but left his DNA behind, which was uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) but law enforcement investigators could not find a match. Following this, another rape took place on July 27, 2000, where a 19-year-old woman, who was jogging near the 18th hole of the Blue Course at Pennsylvania State University, was sexually assaulted at knifepoint by a man.
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How did they nab Kurt Alan Rillema?
After the rape, the survivor said tat the man told her not to “tell anyone or else he would come after her," as per Lock Haven. She was taken to Centre Community Hospital, which is now known as Mount Nittany Medical Center, where the sexual assault evidence kit was used.
Then, on July 30, 2000, the evidence was taken to PSP’s Bureau of Forensic Services in Harrisburg for analysis by PSUPD. The outlet states that a swab was forwarded to the PSP Greensburg DNA Laboratory for further testing. And in 2001, a DNA profile was created for a John Doe. In June 2011, Detective Ryan Olson of PSUPD filed a criminal complaint against the John Doe, charging him with rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and other misdemeanour offenses. However, it didn't lead to anything.
In July 2021, the case was reopened. Olson and Detective Sgt Eric Tremonti of Oakland PD worked together to investigate the two incidents. In January 2022, the kits were submitted to the lab and delivered to Arbor BioSciences.
In December 2022, it was confirmed the DNA provided showed the suspect was a White man with mostly fair skin, most likely brown or hazel eyes and brown hair. On January 17, the detectives received Parabon’s Genetic Genealogy Report which identified three likely males, who were brothers. Among them, Rillema was the oldest.
Rillema was “older than college age” as the survivor from 2000 stated that he seemed to be 28 at the time of the incident. According to a forensic lab, on March 20, it was confirmed the DNA found on the cup and the ones collected from the assaults matched Rillema's DNA.
Who is Kurt Alan Rillema?
Rillema, who lives in West Bloomfield, is a businessman and a golfer, as per the Daily Mail. He was arraigned in a Rochester Hills courtroom on April 18 on first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges for the assaults. As per the records, he has no criminal history but if convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, he will face life in prison.