On May 4, 1997, a 29 year old female was walking on Boone St near Oaklawn Ave. when an unknown black male pulled up to her and forced her into his vehicle. He threatened to assault her with a knife. He drove her to a remote location and sexually assaulted her. He then drove her to Ludlow Ave where he forced her out of the vehicle. She immediately found help from a nearby resident who contacted the police.No suspect was developed in the case during the initial investigation, however, using forensic evidence collected during the original investigation, the CMPD Crime Lab and the Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit have identified and charged Johnny William Bell of Charlotte with the crime.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office has reviewed the investigation and authorized the charges of 1st degree Kidnapping and two counts of 2nd degree Sex Offense. This investigation was completed within days of Johnny Bell being released from the NC Department of Corrections where he was serving time from a Charlotte drug conviction.
Through cooperation of the NC DOC and CMPD, Johnny W Bell was picked up at the Morrison Correctional Facility in Hoffman, NC as he completed his active prison sentence.