DNA ‘Cold Hit’ Helps Convict Man Of 2004 Rape In Fort Greene

FORT GREENE – Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced last week that a Brooklyn man has been convicted of the 2004 rape of a 68-year-old woman in her Fort Greene home.

Willie Weathers, 47, was charged with the rape as a result of a DNA “cold hit” after he had to provide a DNA sample following a subsequent arrest in 2013 for an attempted kidnapping. Weathers was convicted of first-degree rape last Friday, October 6 at Brooklyn Supreme Court.

According to the investigation, at approximately 7pm on July 27, 2004, Weathers forced his way into the victim’s Fort Greene apartment by breaking down her door. He strangled and raped the woman, tore a necklace and a bracelet from her body, and took money from her dresser before fleeing the scene.

The victim’s husband came home and discovered her approximately 30 minutes after Weathers had fled and had a neighbor call 911. The victim was taken to Brooklyn Hospital where a sexual assault evidence collection kit was administered.

Weathers was arrested on July 29, 2013 for an unrelated, attempted kidnapping at gunpoint. His DNA was uploaded into the New York State DNA databank following his arrest and was matched to the DNA from the victim’s 2004 rape kit. Weathers is currently serving ten years for the attempted kidnapping.

His sentencing for the rape is scheduled for October 23. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

“With this conviction we bring long-overdue justice to this vulnerable victim who now, at age 81, courageously took the witness stand and testified against the defendant,” Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said. “This violent predator deserves to spend many years in prison.”