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DNA evidence on flip flops helps authorities catch burglar

by The AV Times Staff • May 31, 2012

Christopher Prather booking photo courtesy LASD.

LANCASTER – The man who broke into a woman’s apartment in February, and groped the woman before escaping, has been caught, thanks to DNA evidence on the flip flops he left behind.

Christopher Prather, 20, was arrested this week and charged Thursday with burglary and sexual battery. He remains jailed on $170,000 bail.

The following is the press report from the Lancaster Station:

In the early morning hours of February 11, 2012 at 1:30 a.m., an unknown male black suspect 18-23 years of age entered the apartment of a 21-year-old female, and stood over her in her bed until she awoke, feeling that someone was in her room staring at her.

The suspect whispered “Excuse Me” to the victim, and when the victim yelled at the suspect to get out, as she did not know who he was, the suspect grabbed the victim’s breasts twice, and then fled from the location.

During an investigation at the victim’s apartment, a pair of flip flop sandals was recovered next to the open sliding glass door leading to the patio of the apartment, which is where the suspects had gained entry into the apartment.

The sandals did not belong to the victim, and were believed to belong to the suspect. The sandals were sent to the Sheriff’s Department crime lab, and processed for DNA evidence.

On 5/29/12, results from the DNA testing were received from the crime lab. Members of the Lancaster Station Burglary Suppression Team received the DNA results, which identified Christopher Prather, 20, of Lancaster, as the suspect in the burglary and sexual assault.

Burglary Suppression Team members quickly mobilized in an effort to locate Prather to get him off the street, because of the danger he presented to the public, based on his actions at the victim’s apartment.

Within three hours, burglary team members obtained an arrest warrant for Prather and located him at an apartment in the 45300 block of Kirkland Avenue. Christopher Prather was taken into custody without incident.

During an interview, Prather admitted to Burglary Suppression Team members that he did break into the victim’s apartment, and did sexual assault the victim.

He stated he saw her earlier in the day at a store, liked her and decided he wanted to try and start a relationship with her.

He admitted to following her home, then went to her home late that evening and entered her apartment through the sliding glass door, leaving his sandals at the door so he would not be heard walking inside the apartment.

Prather has a previous arrest for indecent exposure, and is currently on felony probation for robbery. He is being held in custody at the Los Angeles County jail, with a bail of $170,000.00.

Formal charges were filed against Prather by the district attorney’s office [Thursday] charging him with burglary and sexual battery.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

5 comments for "DNA evidence on flip flops helps authorities catch burglar"

  1. Antwain Wallace says

    October 11, 2012 at 6:34 am

    The devil is a lie! Don’t no one need to speed there whole life in jail.. Sad for you to say something like that.. Sin is sin, so don’t think you better, who are you? God is the only judge, I know Chris personally, he had a strong way in approaching women but I don’t believe he would do anything like that. I believe them racist cops in Lancaster twisted his words and used it against him.

    • l p says

      October 29, 2012 at 11:33 am

      I do to believe. It to and I’m. Happy some one else see it to and I hope he caned get up out of this because. If it was a female. That was going through. What he was going through. They. Would say the man was lieing about a female. Touching him I know what it feel like to be rape because. I been there how would any body know what happen if its. The truth. Or not it could just be a jealous. Person

  2. Captain P says

    June 3, 2012 at 1:57 am

    Good police work for noticing the flip flips to begin with. Great turn around time on the DNA. The girl was real lucky, things could have been so much worse the night she woke up and he was in her apt. Hopefully, she is taking the extra few minutes to check her doors and windows to insure they are locked before she goes to bed.
    This young man sounds sick and entitled. Probably not the best way to start a relationship with a girl you “saw” at the store.

  3. ed says

    June 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    Again the Sheriffs are doing good police work. The length of time from the crime to the arrest was excellent. We must give credit where credit is due. Good Job!
    Hopefully Mr. Prather will be prosecuted for his crimes and learn something. He is so young and still has time to do something with his life.

    • Tina Marie says

      June 2, 2012 at 1:38 pm

      learn something? Rapists and child-molestors probably wont “learn” anything. Ever! He is a danger to the female population. Lock his ass up and throw away the key!

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