Ex-Cop Arrested for Decades-Old Rapes

0:00Durham's story is making news on March 19th. A former Detroit police sergeant named Benjamin Wagner has been arrested for a series of rapes in Michigan dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was working at a North Carolina airport when local police picked him up on a warrant from Wayne County prosecutors. Officials say he's facing charges in five separate kidnapping and sexual assault cases, all involving young women and girls between 15 and 23 years old. Wagner served with the Detroit Police Department from 1989 until his retirement in 2017, rising to the rank of sergeant. After leaving, he moved to Greenville, North Carolina, where he lived a quiet life until the past caught up. Prosecutors describe it as a double life, with all the attacks happening near his home on the northwest side of the city. Wayne County prosecutor Kim Worthy called the case disturbing and infuriating, especially since Wagner was a cop at the time. The survivors were attacked while walking to school, work, or stores, often at gunpoint.

1:02Community concerns have spread, though North Carolina officials say there's no link to local crimes and his DNA doesn't match any cases there. Michigan State Police first connected the assault in 2010, but it took until August 2023 for the FBI to tie Wagner to them through new evidence. No firearm charges are possible due to the statute of limitations. Wagner waived extradition and is heading back to Michigan to face the charges. This case highlights how cold cases can resurface years later with advances in forensics. This episode is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor. Your favorite podcast, music, or sleep sounds coming from your pillow. No earbuds, no distractions. Just listen and relax, SOLI solely pillow.com