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New Haven Today
By the People, for the People
Arrest Made in 2013 New Haven House Party Rape
DNA evidence links suspect to 2021 Waterbury sexual assault case
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Police in New Haven, Connecticut have made an arrest in a 2013 rape case that had gone cold for years. The suspect, Moses Watkis of Waterbury, was identified through DNA evidence that connected him to another sexual assault in 2021. Watkis has been charged with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint.
Why it matters
This case highlights the importance of DNA evidence in solving long-unsolved crimes, even years after the initial incident. It also demonstrates the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies in different jurisdictions to bring a suspected serial offender to justice.
The details
On July 5, 2013, the New Haven Police Department began investigating a sexual assault that occurred at a house party. The victim reported being assaulted by a male later identified as Moses Watkis. The case went cold until 2021, when a DNA hit linked Watkis to another sexual assault that occurred in Waterbury that year. Waterbury police had arrested Watkis for that crime. New Haven's Special Victims Unit Detective Samantha Romano was then able to secure an arrest warrant for Watkis for the 2013 assault.
- The sexual assault in New Haven occurred on July 5, 2013.
- Watkis was arrested by Waterbury police for a separate sexual assault on August 27, 2021.
- Watkis was taken into custody in the New Haven case on January 30, 2026.
The players
Moses Watkis
A 36-year-old resident of Waterbury, Connecticut who has been charged with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint for a 2013 incident in New Haven.
Detective Samantha Romano
A member of the New Haven Police Department's Special Victims Unit who was able to secure an arrest warrant for Watkis based on the DNA evidence linking him to the 2013 assault.
Sergeant Cherelle Carr
The supervisor overseeing Detective Romano's investigation of the 2013 New Haven rape case.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of DNA evidence in solving long-unsolved crimes, even years after the initial incident. It also demonstrates the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies in different jurisdictions to bring a suspected serial offender to justice.
