Police: Tulsa Rape Victim Gets Justice, 10 Years Later

A Tulsa rape victim waited 10 years, but finally got justice, police say.

Investigators say a DNA match solved the case just in time, because the statute of limitations would have run out in two more years.

We're calling the victim "Jo." When Jo heard the suspect turned himself in at the jail, she was so excited. What she remembers about that night is she went to a club to hear a friend do karaoke. She remembers having a drink, then everything went black. The next thing she knows, she wakes up wearing different clothing, knowing something terrible had happened."

"That's when I looked around and saw the bruises on my neck and all the stuff he'd done and my car was gone and my son's belongings were gone," she said

She had a rape exam done. They collected DNA and put it into the system, but because she had only flashes of memories, police didn't have enough to find the man who assaulted her.

"As investigators, it's very frustraing to have all the information but you're not able to give the victims any closure," said Sgt. Jillian Phippen, Tulsa Police Sex Crimes Detective.

Years went by and nothing until police arrested Alexander Agbonze last March for assault and battery. A judge gave him a two-year suspended sentence. Because it was a felony, the Department of Corrections took his DNA and added it to the system and bang, there was a hit.

By law, detectives have to double check the results. They found Agbonze, got another sample and tested it. They confirmed it was a match and called Jo.

"Instant anxiety. It was almost like everything, like he tapped me on the shoulder and said, okay, I'm back," she said.

"It is gratifying for us and even more gratifying for our victims to be able to make that phone call say, 'We got him,'" Sgt. Phippen said.

Jo says whatever comes next, she's ready to testify, she's ready to do whatever it takes to get justice in this case, not just for her, but in order to protect any other potential victims out there as well.