DNA from face mask used to solve 13-year-old rape case, police say

A tourist was raped in Jerusalem, Israel, in 2009 and the case wasn't solved. But police say DNA was collected from a face mask helped investigators find the man responsible.

In early 2009, a tourist arrived at a Jerusalem hospital with wounds all over her body, police said.

The victim was temporarily living in Jerusalem while taking part in a seminar and she told police she was led to a local public park after the suspect offered to help her carry her musical instrument, The Times of Israel reported.

At the park, the victim said the suspect hit her on the head and raped her. The man fled the scene and the woman was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

An investigation was opened, but investigators couldn't track down the suspect. That was until recently, as police started utilizing technological advancements in forensic identification and evidence, including matching DNA collected from a discarded face mask with samples from the rape scene, police said.

Officials contacted the victim and gave her an update on the case and the suspect was arrested after the woman arrived in Israel, police said.

Because the suspect was a minor at the time of the alleged crime, his name is prohibited from being released, officials said.