Wildcat Mountain Road Rape Suspect Arrested

The investigation is called a prime example of how potent forensic evidence can be in developing "unknown" suspect information.

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has announced the successful identification and arrest of a subject believed responsible for the September 7th armed residential rape and robbery incident involving a 67 year-old female victim residing on Wildcat Mountain Drive, in Eagle Creek.

Members of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Major Crimes Unit, responded to the Coos County Jail - situated along the southern Oregon coastline September 19th; which resulted in the formal arrest of an inmate presently housed and in the custody of the Coos County Sheriff's Office Jail.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Detectives traveled to Coos County late Wednesday afternoon and formally arrested 42-year old Michael Freelend Donley; who has been lodged in the Coos County Jail since September 12th.

Donley is presently lodged in the Coos County Jail as a result of a Bandon Police Department criminal investigation – involving Michael Donley - resulting in the charges identified as: Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle; 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief; 2nd degree Theft and Burglary in the 2nd degree. The aforementioned charges stem from a criminal investigation conducted by the Bandon Police Department, in Coos County, Oregon.

The Bandon City Police arrested Michael F. Donley on September 12th, with the aid of a Coos Bay Police canine, after officers were alerted to a report of a transient type male subject, later identified as Donley, who was being sought by police when he was detected committing a series of crimes (as charged) in the City of Bandon.

Bandon officials indicate Michael Donley fled from the crime scene on September 12th; only to be apprehended a short time later with the aid of a responding Coos Bay canine that applied an ‘arresting bite' to Donley as he was attempting to evade capture.

With respect to the Clackamas County rape investigation: Clackamas County Sheriff's Detectives have added the additional charges to inmate Michael Freelend Donley; these additional new charges are identified as:

Members of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit have been aggressively seeking the suspect responsible for this September 7th, Wildcat Mountain Drive residential rape and robbery investigation. As a result of this initial and extensive crime scene investigation, forensic evidence collected was promptly submitted to the Oregon State Crime Lab; which proved to be crucial concerning this unknown-suspect identification effort.

A lead Clackamas County Sheriff's Major Crimes unit investigator working on this case states, "The Oregon State Crime Lab was once again, sensational and provided the utmost critical attention to this sensitive investigative matter. They are to be commended for their dedication, expertise and commitment to this rape investigation."

Quality lab examination of forensic evidence collected at crime scenes is essential to the success of any criminal investigation, and the Oregon State Crime Lab continues to excel as they provide quality results while contending with the vast amount of laboratory type requests they receive daily.

This most recent Clackamas County Sheriff's Office investigation, with the resulting suspect identification, is a prime example of how potent forensic (DNA) evidence can be in developing "unknown" suspect information.

CODIS is an electronic database of DNA profiles that can identify suspects, is similar to the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) database. Every State in the Nation is in the process of implementing a DNA index of individuals convicted of certain crimes, such as rape, murder, and child abuse. Upon conviction and sample analysis, perpetrators' DNA profiles are entered into the DNA database. Just as fingerprints found at a crime scene can be entered into AFIS. Therefore, law enforcement officers have the ability to identify possible suspects when no prior suspect existed.

Michael Donley has prior arrests recorded in Missouri and Idaho. In particular, Donley was previously arrested in 1987 (Missouri), and sentenced to 25 years in prison for an armed (knife) residential rape – burglary incident. This prior incident also involved a female victim, age 57, (Donley age 21) at the time.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Office of Public Information, has been informed by Missouri Parole officials that Michael Donley was paroled from prison this year on July 5th and failed to report to his assigned parole office.

On July 20th, Donley was arrested for absconding and lodged. On August 22nd, Donley was assigned (with a second chance) to a diagnostic center. Then on August 29th, Donley failed to return from a doctor's pass for a reported tooth ache.