The man believed to be behind a series of rapes and burglaries that have haunted the communities of Virginia, Meloding, and Makwane has been named and is behind bars.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thato Sharack Leeto (28) appeared in the Virginia Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 26 March. His case was postponed to 30 April for further investigation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Leeto is now facing multiple charges, including eight counts of rape, following an extensive investigation,” says Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, Free State police spokesperson.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between mid 2018 and late 2022, the Virginia community experienced a series of housebreakings, common robberies, house robberies and thefts \u2013 creating a climate of fear. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this period, eight cases of rape, housebreaking, house robbery and theft were registered in the Virginia and Meloding area.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, the Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria provided a forensic investigative lead, linking an unknown individual to cases in \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Makwane and Qwaqwa. The dockets were assigned to Const. Mosioua Ntholeng, an investigator attached to the police’s Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) unit in Bloemfontein. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n He meticulously re-interviewed the victims, revisited and reconstructed crime scenes and diligently followed up on all information received. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n This comprehensive approach led to the identification of a 28-year-old from Excelsior as a primary suspect.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further investigation revealed that the suspect had a prior arrest record for housebreakings in Virginia, Welkom and Excelsior, exhibiting a similar modus operandi (MO) to the serial rapist. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n A buccal sample, a method of collecting DNA from cells scraped from the inside of a person’s cheek, was obtained, which confirmed his identity.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suspect, Leeto, was visited at Winburg Prison on 24 March. He faces eight rape charges. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, he has been identified as a suspect in two other cases of burglary that happened in Welkom and Virginia in 2023, based on fingerprint evidence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The man believed to be behind a series of rapes and burglaries that have haunted the communities of Virginia, Meloding, and Makwane has been named and is behind bars. 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