Peachtree City path robbery suspect arrested; DNA identifies teen, police say
19-year-old charged with attacking Peachtree City woman
A 19-year-old has been arrested after attacking a woman on the Peachtree City Path System last summer. The victim unmasked her attacker, and the DNA on the mask led the authorities back to him.
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Peachtree City Police arrest a 19-year-old man after DNA links him to an attempted robbery on the multi-use path last June.
Terrence Truitt was an early person of interest in the case after police said he was located in the area and matched the victim’s description.
SEE ALSO: Peachtree City police release person of interest photo after attack on path
Six-month Investigation
What we know:
The attack on a woman on the Peachtree City path system last summer has led to the arrest of a teenager on attempted robbery charges.
The investigation ended with the arrest of a 19-year-old Peachtree City man. That arrest took place in an office at the Newnan Yamaha plant where police say Terrence Truitt worked.
Peachtree City suspect unmasked
The backstory:
Last June, a woman walking on the famous Peachtree City path system unmasked the man she told police grabbed her and tried to rob her. FOX 5 has obtained a police photo of the mask.
Police say they had been waiting since June for GBI test results on DNA samples from the mask and from the cheek of Terrence Truitt shortly after the attack. Police say they got the results recently and filed warrants of Truitt’s arrest.
SEE ALSO: Peachtree City police seek identity of teen in cart path robbery attempt
Path attack early person of interest
What they're saying:
Police say after the victim unmasked Truitt during the robbery attempt, he ran to a nearby apartment complex and hid in a gym. Police say they located surveillance video of him at the apartment complex and that led them to develop Truitt as a person of interest in the case.
"During an initial interview, they requested consent for a DNA sample, which he declined. So, they followed up with a search warrant and obtained DNA later on," said Lt. Chris Hyatt of Peachtree City Police.
Police say they asked for the GBI to put a rush on the DNA testing, and they did. Even so, it still took six months.
Peachtree City path security a top priority
What's next:
Police say they have charged Truitt with conspiracy to commit robbery.
They say security of the 150 miles of multi-use path system remains a top priority.
The Source: FOX 5's Doug Evans has been following this case since June. He spoke with Lt. Chris Hyatt of Peachtree City Police Department for the latest details in this article and used previous reports about the attack.