DNA from 1989 sexual battery leads to arrest

Boca Raton, FL – The crime happened on March 15, 1989. It was about 3:15 in the afternoon and the victim had just finished washing her car in the parking lot of her apartment complex located at 1979 NW 4 Ave. She returned to her apartment, leaving the door open. A few minutes later, as she was in the kitchen, she turned around and was confronted by an intruder. He was a white male about 6’0” tall and armed with a large knife. The suspect grabbed the victim and led her to the living room, where he closed the door. The suspect then led the victim to the bedroom, where he made her take off her bathing suit. While she was trying to take off her top, the suspect used the knife to cut it off, cutting the victim in the process. The suspect then sexually battered the victim. When the suspect was finished, he ran out of the apartment.

At the time of the offense, Boca Raton officers, detectives, and Crime Scene Technicians conducted an exhaustive investigation, which included processing the crime scene and collecting evidence, canvassing the neighborhood, interviewing the victim and witnesses, and compiling a composite sketch of the suspect. However, a viable suspect never emerged and the case went cold.

On June 28, 2006, an Evidence Custodian for the Boca Raton Police Services Department, while reviewing evidence from cold cases, submitted the sexual battery exam kit to the Palm Beach County lab for analysis. On July 29, 2010, detectives received information from PBSO that the FBI had matched the suspect’s DNA profile. On August 30, 2010, detectives received the official report from PBSO which stated that while searching the National Convicted Offender Database, the suspect’s DNA profile matched convicted offender John Leonard McKenzie.

After receiving a warrant, Boca Raton detectives arrested McKenzie yesterday for armed sexual battery and armed burglary with a battery.

Arrested:

John Leonard McKenzie
DOB 03/14/1951
Boynton Beach, FL

Two arrested for robbery conspiracy

Boca Raton, FL – On Friday September 3, 2010, at about 9:50 a.m., officers with the Boca Raton Police Services Department responded to a report of a suspicious incident that occurred in the parking garage of 1800 North Military Trail.

When officers arrived on scene, they met with the victim, Odalys Herrero. Herrero said that she had entered the elevator on the third floor of the parking garage and was followed by a white male wearing a plaid, hooded shirt, sunglasses, and black gloves. Herrero told officers the male positioned himself behind her, which made her uncomfortable, so she faced him and asked what floor he wanted. The suspect got off on the second floor and Herrero proceeded to the first floor where she told security, who then called Boca Raton police.

Officers also spoke with a witness who saw the same suspect who followed Herrero standing next to a black Mercury Grand Marquis. The witness was immediately suspicious of the suspect’s behavior and checked to make sure Herrero exited the elevator. As the witness watched, the Mercury drove off. The witness tried to get a tag number from the vehicle, but it was obscured by what appeared to be black tape.

A nearby officer saw the suspect vehicle at Glades Road and I-95 and stopped it. The driver of the vehicle, John M. Coggiola, matched the description of the suspect. The officer saw a plaid, hooded shirt lying on the back seat and black tape in an open center console. The tag on the vehicle had a sticky residue on it. There were two other people in the car, Reymon Velazquez and Billie Jean Nania. Initially Coggiola and Velazquez gave conflicting stories, but then admitted they planned on committing a purse snatching, but “chickened out” at the last minute. Nania said she had nothing to do with the plan.

Coggiola and Velazquez were charged with attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Arrested:

John Coggiola                 Reymon Velazquez
DOB 06/26/1974             DOB 02/21/1979
Deerfield Beach, FL         Boca Raton, FL

FAU student robbed at apartments near campus

Boca Raton, FL – On Monday, September 6, 2010 at shortly after 11:30 p.m., officers with the Boca Raton Police Services Department responded to a report of a robbery that had just occurred at Casa Del Rio Apartments, 490 NW 20th Street.

When officers arrived they met with the victim, a 17 year old Florida Atlantic University student. The victim told officers that as he was driving into Casa Del Rio’s parking lot, he noticed four to six black males hanging out on the east side of the entrance by the bus stop. The males made furtive movements concealing their faces as the victim drove past. When the victim parked his car, he saw movement behind him, but he still gathered his property and walked to his building. As he was opening the door, he saw a black male with long dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, approaching him from the southwest corner, holding a black handgun. The suspect pushed the gun into the small of the victim’s back, forcing him inside. The other suspects followed them inside and demanded his property. All of the suspects were wearing dark clothing and did not appear to be wearing gloves. They took his computer, cell phone, cash, and identification. The suspects left in an unknown direction.

If anyone has information about this crime, they are asked to call Detective Joseph Smith at (561) 620-6140 or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS.

Suspects:

4-6 black males
One suspect had long dreadlocks in a ponytail
and was armed with a handgun
All were wearing dark clothing and no gloves