Jury in Calcasieu Parish Finds Man Guilty in 1997 Case Based on New DNA Test

Published September 12, 2019

Source: Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office

From the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana – Lorenzo D. Watson, age 43, was found guilty by a Calcasieu Parish jury of aggravated rape, on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, in the Fourteenth Judicial District Court, before the Honorable Sharon Wilson.

On January 10, 1997, the victim was violently raped in her home. An unknown person broke into her home, tied her hands behind her back and raped her at knifepoint. She reported the crime, however, the suspect remained unknown for 20+ years. In 2017, the Lake Charles Police Department, while investigating cold cases with viable DNA, reached out to victim to see if they could retest the DNA associated with her case. With the victims consent, the DNA was run through CODIS and the defendant was matched to this crime.

“We are glad we were able to get this violent criminal permanently off the streets. It feels good to be able to give the victim justice after all these years. We are grateful to the jurors of Calcasieu Parish for their service and for making the right decision in this case,” said Elliott Cassidy, Assistant District Attorney.

Captain Kevin Kirkum and Sgt. Garrett Graham of the Lake Charles Police Department investigated the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elliott Cassidy and Assistant District Attorney Hope Buford for the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s office. Watson represented himself in the proceedings.

Sentencing for Watson is set for September 26, 2019, before the Honorable Sharon Wilson. Aggravated rape carries a mandatory life sentence without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.