Photo: Cornelio Chairez-Velasquez
A man charged with multiple sexual assaults as well as attempted murder has been identified by DNA evidence as the suspect in an additional case against a young girl.
The first assault took place on November 24, 2018, at Cabrillo Park, located at 1820 East Fruit Street in Santa Ana. A 14-year-old girl was sitting on a park bench late that evening before she was brutally beaten and sexually assaulted by 37-year-old Cornelio Chairez-Velasquez. Initially, Chairez-Velasquez approached her and tried to make small talk with her. When she attempted to leave, he pulled a knife on her and ordered her to stay.
Santa Ana Police found the girl after midnight. According to a press release, “Santa Ana Police Special Crimes detectives released a sketch of the suspect and sought help from the public. The case remained open as detectives followed up on several leads, but the suspect was never captured.”
Two months later, Chairez-Velasquez attempted to rape and strangle a woman at a motel in Santa Ana. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody for multiple sexual assault charges and attempted murder.
While he was in the Orange County Jail, DNA evidence revealed him as the suspect in the former case at Cabrillo Park. “Rape and child molest charges have been added and he is currently held without bail.”
Anyone with additional information is encouraged by Santa Ana Police Department to contact Detective Corporal Maria Lopez at 714-245-8542, mlopez15@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
