Police cite DNA match in Olney rape arrest

Philadelphia police said Tuesday that they matched through DNA evidence a man who allegedly raped, robbed and stomped a 77-year-old woman earlier this month inside her Olney home.

Kevin McKeither, 47, of the 2400 block of Napa Street in Strawberry Mansion, was charged with attempted murder, rape, robbery, burglary and related offenses in connection with the June 4 assault in the 100 block of West Gale Street, said Chief Inspector Joseph Fox.

Witnesses in the neighborhood provided details for a police sketch that led detectives to McKeither, Fox said. While waiting for the DNA testing, police held him on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court for a drug case.

"Just this morning, the results came back, and we got a DNA match," Fox told reporters during a late-afternoon news conference at Special Victims Unit headquarters.

Fox said McKeither had been staying a few days with a relative who lived across the street from the woman.

Witnesses told police he was seen loitering in the neighborhood the day of the attack.

About 2 p.m., as the woman was taking groceries into her home, McKeither grabbed her at knifepoint, Fox said. Inside the house, he raped her, stomped her in the chest, and then fled with $100, Fox said.

The woman was hospitalized with a bruised heart. She has since been released.

There has been a series of sexual assaults around the city. Fox said that investigators did not believe he was responsible for any other attacks, but that they would continue to look for other possible connections.

The Citizens Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley had posted a $6,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the rapist.

Fox said the witnesses were crucial to solving the case and noted that they came forward before any reward was announced.