Georgia investigators are seeking potential victims after DNA linked Florida sex offender Julius Hunter to three sexual assault cases involving women allegedly lured through Craigslist job advertisements. Hunter, 42, faces rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping charges in connection with a 2016 attack on a 19-year-old woman in Clarkston. Authorities say similar ads offered babysitting, modeling, dancing and massage work, raising concerns about additional victims in Georgia and other states.
Hunter was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 13 after a DeKalb County grand jury indicted him two days earlier. He was extradited to Georgia and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on Aug. 20. He has not been charged in two other cases where investigators say his DNA matched sexual assault evidence.
Investigators are asking anyone who believes they may have been targeted to contact authorities. They say reporting information does not require a victim to pursue prosecution.
| 1) | Georgia charges and investigation |
| 2) | The alleged babysitting-job assault |
| 3) | DNA connects separate cases |
| 4) | Similar online job advertisements |
| 5) | Appeal for information and support |
Georgia charges and investigation
DeKalb County authorities accuse Julius Hunter of attacking a 19-year-old woman at an apartment complex near 700 Jolly Avenue in Clarkston on July 27, 2016. The grand jury indictment was issued Aug. 11 and includes charges of rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping. The case remained unresolved for years until investigators connected evidence from the sexual assault examination to Hunter after a later Florida case.
Hunter previously pleaded no contest in an unrelated 2021 Florida sexual battery case involving his former girlfriend. He was serving an 11-year probation sentence when Georgia authorities obtained the indictment. A representative of the Georgia Public Defender Council, which represents Hunter, declined to comment.
The alleged babysitting-job assault
According to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, the woman believed she was accepting a $300 overnight babysitting job. Hunter allegedly arranged a ride-share to an apartment, where she found Hunter and another man but no children. Authorities say she tried to leave, but Hunter prevented her from doing so and sexually assaulted her over several hours before releasing her the next day.
The woman reportedly fled in a taxi and asked the driver to call 911. She met police at a gas station and later went to a hospital for a sexual assault examination. Investigators have not identified the second man who was allegedly in the apartment and say he has not been charged.
DNA connects separate cases
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation developed a male DNA profile from the Clarkston sexual assault kit and entered it into the Combined DNA Index System, commonly known as CODIS. The profile did not initially match anyone in the national database. After Hunter’s DNA was collected in connection with his 2021 Florida case, authorities entered his profile into CODIS and received a match.
Authorities say the match involved the Clarkston evidence as well as sexual assault kits from separate cases in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties dating to 2016 and 2017. Hunter has not been charged in those cases. Investigators said they have been unable to reconnect with the two women involved and are examining whether the evidence indicates a broader pattern.
Similar online job advertisements
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office said the cases share similarities beyond the DNA evidence. Investigators allege that Hunter used Craigslist advertisements to solicit women for babysitting, modeling, dancing and massage jobs. The alleged use of employment offers is central to the investigation because the victims may have believed they were responding to legitimate opportunities.
Brandi Rogers, an investigator with the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, said the number of incidents occurring within a relatively short period has raised concern about additional victims. She also said Hunter’s ties to New Jersey mean investigators are considering whether people there may have relevant information.
“Hunter grew up in New Jersey, so it is possible there may be victims there,” Rogers said.
Appeal for information and support
The Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Task Force, a collaboration involving prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates, is reviewing the cases. Authorities are asking anyone who believes Hunter may have victimized them to contact the DeKalb County tip line at 404-371-2444. The request applies to people who encountered similar advertisements or incidents in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey or elsewhere.
Rogers emphasized that contacting investigators does not obligate a person to seek prosecution. Authorities say information can help establish the scope of the investigation while also allowing them to offer support and connect potential victims with services.
“It is important that we hear their stories so we can offer them support whether or not they decide to move forward with prosecution,” Rogers said.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter faces Georgia charges tied to an alleged 2016 assault in Clarkston. |
| 2 | DNA evidence linked him to three sexual assault investigations. |
| 3 | Authorities say Craigslist ads offered jobs including babysitting, modeling, dancing and massage work. |
| 4 | Investigators are seeking information about potential victims and an unidentified second man. |
Summary
The investigation began with a long-unsolved Clarkston assault and expanded after DNA collected in a Florida case matched evidence from two additional Georgia investigations. Authorities are examining whether similar online job advertisements were used to target other women and are urging potential victims to come forward for information and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does Julius Hunter face?
Hunter faces rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping charges in Georgia related to an alleged 2016 assault in Clarkston.
How did investigators connect Hunter to the cases?
Authorities said DNA collected after Hunter’s 2021 Florida case matched evidence from sexual assault kits in three Georgia investigations.
How can potential victims contact investigators?
Potential victims or people with relevant information can call the DeKalb County tip line at 404-371-2444. Authorities said contacting them does not require a person to pursue prosecution.
