Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested and Charged in 27-year-old Cold Case
Published on April 28, 2026
Charlotte, N.C. – (Tuesday, April 28, 2026) – Detectives with the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Cold Case Unit, with assistance from CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and the Asheville Police Department, have arrested and charged Eric Lee Howard, 48, in connection with a 27‑year‑old sexual assault cold case.
On Saturday, January 9, 1999, the victim reported that an unknown suspect wearing a ski mask forced entry into her home and sexually assaulted her. The suspect fled the residence after the assault.
In 1999, a DNA profile was obtained from evidence and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Cold Case Detectives continued investigating the case for decades. In 2022, the male DNA profile was submitted to an outside laboratory for forensic investigative genealogy. Through this process, detectives identified Howard as a potential suspect.
In 2025, CMPD Cold Case Detectives, with assistance from the Asheville Police Department, located Howard in Asheville, N.C. In 2026, additional DNA testing confirmed Howard as the suspect in the 1999 assault.
On Tuesday, April 28, CMPD cold case detectives traveled to Ashville to interview Howard.
Howard is being transported to Charlotte and transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Howard is charged with the following:
- First‑Degree Burglary
- First Degree Kidnapping
- Two Counts of Second‑Degree Rape
- Second‑Degree Sexual Offense
- Attempted Second‑Degree Sexual Offense
CMPD Cold Case Detectives would like to thank the CMPD Crime Laboratory, Ramapo College of New Jersey IGG Center, Parabon NanoLabs and the Federal SAKI Grant, which funded additional outside laboratory testing.
The investigation into this case is ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD Public Affairs Division. The lead detective in this case is Det. Melendez. For additional information, please refer to the reports: 19990109‑0237‑02. Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 704‑334‑1600, use the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or visit the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website.
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