Dallas Police Department officials announced the arrest of 35-year-old Jarvis Pierce in connection with a sexual assault case that had remained unsolved for more than ten years. The arrest occurred in June 2026, following the acquisition of new DNA evidence and additional witness testimony.
Pierce is currently charged with sexual assault. According to the department, detectives are now investigating whether Pierce is connected to other cold cases. The breakthrough in the investigation was attributed to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), a program established by the federal Department of Justice over a decade ago to help law enforcement agencies collect and review DNA evidence in unsolved sexual assault cases.
Detective Elizabeth DeAngelis was assigned to lead the Dallas Police Department's SAKI efforts in 2021. DeAngelis, a veteran officer with a background in vice and human trafficking cases, took on the responsibility of reviewing cold cases. In February 2026, she received notification of a DNA match related to one of her long-standing cases.
After reviewing the case file and evidence, DeAngelis collaborated with fellow veteran detective Sara Sheerin. Sheerin, who was previously featured in the television series Police Women of Dallas, joined the investigation. The two detectives began reinterviewing victims and collecting further DNA evidence, which they believed linked Pierce to the crime.
Detective Carlos Cardenas was brought in to provide additional support. With 20 years of experience at the Dallas Police Department, Cardenas handled the interrogation process. The combined efforts of the three detectives resulted in the new testimony and evidence necessary to secure Pierce's arrest.
