Dropped cell phone leads to arrest of masked man accused of raping Chattanooga woman

Chattanooga police arrested a 22-year-old man after lab results showed his DNA matched evidence on the nightgown of a woman who was raped more than a year ago, according to an arrest report.

Derrick L. Jones has been charged with one count of aggravated rape, according to the report.

Jones, who has a lengthy criminal history, remains in Hamilton County Jail on a bond of $1 million. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 22 in front of General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck.

The victim reported that a man wearing a mask raped her repeatedly on Aug. 15, 2010, the report said. The woman did not know Jones, but when she moved out of her apartment, she found a cell phone left behind after the rape that contained a photo of Jones, according to the report.

Chattanooga police Detective Karl Fields was able to use the photo to find Jones’ mother in the apartment complex and she identified Jones as her son, police said.

When questioned, Jones denied raping the woman and consented to a DNA swab in January. According to the report, the DNA results came back from lab on Sept. 6.

Right2Know at http://www.right2know.com