Pottmyer
A man police believe committed multiple, unsolved sexual assaults – dating as far back as 1998 – is now in custody in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He is Edward Eugene Pottmyer, 58 and, although he has a Chantilly address, he actually lives in Loudoun County.
Police say he allegedly attacked three women who lived in the local area at the time of the offenses and that modern DNA testing reportedly tied him to each crime. He was apprehended June 5, but police didn’t publicly release information about his arrest until last Thursday, June 13.
Details of the offenses are as follows:
* On Sept. 9, 1998, around 7 p.m., a 48-year-old woman was jogging on a bike path in Fair Lakes when she was assaulted. The suspect implied he had a knife, sexually assaulted her and then ran from the area.
* On Aug. 3, 2000, around 11 p.m., a suspect forced entry into a home in the 11900 block of Parkside Drive in Fair Oaks. A 66-year-old woman was asleep when she was awoken by a man assaulting her. She fought him and was able to escape by jumping from a second-story balcony and running away.
* On Dec. 6, 2004, around 10:45 p.m., a 51-year-old woman was in her basement in the 9900 block of Whitewater Drive in Burke. She saw a man exposing himself outside her sliding-glass door. When she yelled, the man ran away.
In all three cases, detectives recovered forensic evidence from the scenes and submitted it for analysis upon collection. But a suspect was never found. Recently, however -- because of the advancement in DNA testing – detectives submitted this crime-scene DNA to Othram Inc.
Othram’s technicians used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop a comprehensive profile that was then used for Forensic Genetic Genealogy research. And according to Fairfax County police, “DNA analysis [allegedly] linked all three cases and potentially identified Edward Eugene Pottmyer as a suspect.”
Afterward, detectives obtained Pottmyer’s DNA which, they say, “positively identified him as the suspect.” Detectives then obtained felony arrest warrants charging him with forcible sodomy and abduction with the intent to defile. On June 5, with the assistance of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Pottymer was taken into custody. Since then, he’s been in the Fairfax County jail where he’s being held without bond. He has a Sept. 18 court date.
Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have information about these cases or believe they had unlawful contact with Pottmyer. Those with information are asked to call the Cold Case Squad at 703-246-7511.
Tips may also be submitted anonymously via Crime Solvers by phoning 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477).