Man Sentenced to 30 Years as Texas Cold Case Comes to a Close

If you’re fascinated by old crime stories or love to learn about cold cases being solved, there is a new one from right here in Texas you will want to know about.

This Case Began Back in 1993 in Austin, Texas

According to KXAN, back on November 22nd, 1993 there was a 13-year-old girl that reported a sexual assault to the Austin Police Department.

Obviously, we didn’t have the technology available then that we do now, but there was DNA evidence collected during the examination.

Most people associated with the case were hoping to find the man responsible but after so long you start giving up hope.

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The DNA Kit Was Finally Sent for Testing

It took years, but finally in July of 2020 the kit was sent for testing in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). This program compares DNA profiles from forensic cases to offenders convicted of crimes typically more violent or sexual in nature.

The test identified the suspect as now 66-year-old Douglas Birden, his DNA sample was on file from another case.

There was a search warrant issued to collect more DNA from Birden to confirm the findings.

4 Days to Find the Suspect Guilty

The trial didn’t take long as a jury found Birden guilty on charges of sexual assault after just four days in court.

Birden was then sentenced to 30 years in prison for his actions back in 1993.

Let this be a lesson for everyone, that if you commit a crime in Texas you will have to pay the consequences, even if those come years after the crime was committed.