HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (KTHV) - A Garland County man wanted for the rape of at least four victims is now behind bars. Police had been working on several rape cases in Hot Springs. But on Friday, investigators were able to use DNA to link four cases to one suspect.
"This was definitely somebody that we needed to get off the street," said Corporal McCreary Means, Hot Springs Police Department.
On Sunday, Hot Springs Police Department arrested 24-year-old Lynn Terrance Breckenridge. According to Means, his crimes date back to April.
"Our detectives were able to use a rape kit, to send that off to the state crime lab and they were able to get a hit on that," Means said.
His latest attack was on Sunday. According to Corporal Means, Breckenridge forced the victim to get into his car and leave her dog on the side of the road. The victim said he took her to a separate location, sexually assaulted her and then let her go. But he then returned to kidnap her dog. That dog, Means said, was one of the links they used to find Breckenridge.
"I'm not able to tell exactly you how that dog played a part in it," he said. "But a vital part, a vital part in that investigation."
Since Breckenridge's arrest, the dog has been reunited with its owner. One of the biggest breaks in the case for police was when the suspect returned to intimidate his third victim. He went to her place of work and she was able to get his license plate and get it to police.
"She was observant, she knew, you know, some of the particulars, some of the things that we would be looking for which helped our detectives out a whole lot," Means said.
In addition to the car, police said other details described by the victims led to Breckenridge's arrest.
"He had a tattoo of lips on his neck, which is very distinctive," Means said. "That is something that would definitely stand out."
Breckenridge is charged with four counts of rape, two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of kidnapping, and one count of attempted rape. He'll be in court for arraignment on Tuesday morning.
