Summary

On December 24, 2014, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a report of a sexual assault at a residence in the 3100 block of Evelyn Street in Tucker, Georgia. A 54-year-old woman reported that a masked man confronted her in her garage as she was leaving her home. The man bound her wrists, covered her mouth, and sexually assaulted her.

The woman was transported to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals performed a sexual assault examination and collected evidence. Using evidence from the sexual assault kit, investigators developed an STR DNA profile belonging to an unknown male. The profile was entered it into the CODIS, but there was no match.

On January 30, 2019, DeKalb County police responded to another sexual assault at an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Northlake Parkway in Tucker. A 35-year-old woman told officers that a masked man armed with a knife tied her up and sexually assaulted her. During the attack, she bit the man’s hand and drew blood. Investigators collected a blood sample from the scene and a single-source male STR DNA profile was developed entered it into CODIS. While the suspect was not identified, it was determined that the DNA recovered in the 2014 and 2019 sexual-assault cases originated from the same unidentified man.

On March 26, 2024, DeKalb County police responded to DeKalb County Fire Station 22 on Montreal Road in Tucker. A 67-year-old woman reported that a masked man armed with a box cutter had forced her into her vehicle as she left a nearby office building. The man bound her wrists, taped her mouth shut, and drove her around for hours while attempting withdraw money from ATMs. He also cut and burned the woman before releasing her.

Investigators recovered a black drawstring bag that the man had left in the vehicle. Evidence was collected. An STR DNA profile was developed and entered it into CODIS. Investigators determined that the DNA profile from the 2024 kidnapping matched the same unidentified man linked to the 2014 and 2019 sexual assaults. Despite the man being a serial attacker who committed multiple violent crimes against women, he could not be identified.

In September 2025, evidence related to the 2019 sexual assault was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists extracted DNA from the evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive SNP profile. The SNP profile was provided to law enforcement so that a forensic genetic genealogy search could be conducted.

During the course of the investigation, DeKalb County police responded to a fatal stabbing in the 3100 block of Evelyn Street in Tucker on July 3, 2026. Investigators observed a trail of blood leading to a vacant property across the street and subsequently encountered 45-year-old Jamal Toliaferro at the property. Police took Toliaferro into custody after additional evidence collected at the property connected him to the homicide. Toliaferro was charged with Malice Murder, Criminal Trespass, and Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers in connection with the death of 30-year-old Kenyon Jeffries.

During the homicide investigation, police obtained a search warrant for Toliaferro’s DNA after investigators identified physical similarities between Toliaferro and descriptions provided by victims of the 2014, 2019, and 2024 attacks. Investigators also noted similarities among the homicide case and the unsolved attacks.

A DNA sample was collected from Toliaferro and submitted to Othram where scientists used KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing to compare it with the SNP profile developed from evidence in the 2019 sexual assault case. This comparison matched Toliaferro to the 2019 profile.

Investigators subsequently obtained an additional search warrant for a new DNA sample from Toliaferro. Using traditional STR DNA testing, investigators confirmed that Toliaferro’s STR DNA profile matched the STR profiles developed in the 2014 sexual assault, the 2019 sexual assault, and the 2024 kidnapping cases.

On September 8, 2026, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office obtained arrest warrants charging Toliaferro in connection with the 2014, 2019, and 2024 cases. The charges include Rape, Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault, False Imprisonment, Armed Robbery, and Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Felony, among other offenses. Toliaferro is being held without bond in the DeKalb County Jail.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information about Jamal Toliaferro or his alleged crimes is asked to call the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office Tip Line at 404-371-2444.

This is the 32nd publicly announced case in the State of Georgia where investigators have used Othram's technology to identify an individual. Learn about other cases by visiting Othram's website.