IN inmate accused in '81 MI sex assault

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - An Indiana inmate sentenced in a sexual assault case from 1982 is waiting extradition to Michigan to be formally charged in a similar case from 1981.

The Kent County (Mich.) Prosecutor's Office reviewed the older case and authorized a first-degree criminal sexual conduct warrant for 54-year-old Joseph Blackmer. He is currently incarcerated at an Indiana Department of Corrections facility.

Police say it was Dec. 17, 1981 when a 23-year-old woman answered the door at her home in the 7100 block of Houndstooth Street SW in Byron Township to an unknown young man.

The male -- about 18 to 19 years old -- was in search of some directions. When she opened the door, the man pushed his way into the home and put a gun to her head, according to a news release from the Kent County Sheriff's Department.

He ordered her into her bedroom and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The suspect fled the scene and the victim called 911. She was taken to a hospital for a sexual assault examination.

On March 26, 1982 the case was closed due to no suspects or leads, police said, and the evidence was retained.

Recently a Kent County detective reviewed several cold criminal sexual conduct cases to determine if they had any evidence that could be submitted for DNA testing.  

The sexual assault kit for this case was submitted to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.

MSP investigators obtained a DNA profile that was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which matches DNA profiles of unknown persons to DNA profiles of known persons.  

Kent County investigators were then advised of a CODIS match to Blackmer, who was already in an Indiana prison.

He had been incarcerated after committing a similar sex crime on June 2, 1982 in Elkhart County. Blackmer was arrested the same day, police said, later pleaded guilty and sentenced to 90 years in prison, but will be eligible for parole within the next 10 years.

Sheriff's officials said Blackmer has confessed to the 1981 crime.

Investigators delivered the news to the victim, who they said no longer lives in West Michigan.

"A horrific crime like this, certainly you can imagine the relief to know that the perpetrator has been found, that has probably been in prison for a long time as well, and that there will be justice done," said Kent County Undersheriff Jon Hess.

Blackmer will be put through the court process in West Michigan.

There is currently no statute of limitations on first-degree criminal sexual conduct cases in Michigan, but there was in 1981. Since Blackmer fled to Illinois after the Michigan case, the statue of limitations did not come into play.

If Blackmer had stayed in Michigan, 24 Hour News 8 was told, authorities would not have been able to charge him.

There has been no word yet on when he will be back in Michigan to face those charges.