A Calgary man has been charged in connection with a violent sexual assault that occurred in July 2019 after new DNA evidence led investigators to a suspect.
Police say the assault took place in the southeast community of Forest Heights. Officers were called to the 500 block of 44 St. S.E. at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2019, after receiving reports of a woman being sexually assaulted by an unknown man.
Upon arrival, they found the victim suffering from serious, life-altering injuries. She was transported to hospital in critical condition.
Investigators from the Sexual Assault Investigative Unit gathered multiple pieces of evidence, including DNA, which was submitted to the RCMP National DNA Data Bank.
After more than four years, a breakthrough came in December 2024 when a match was found, allowing officers to identify a suspect.
On Friday, Feb. 7, police arrested 26-year-old Kepra Udup Bang at a residence in the 2300 block of 162 Avenue S.W. He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Feb. 20.
“We will never close a sexual assault investigation,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson of the Calgary Police Service Sexual Assault Investigative Unit.
“We will continue to investigate sexual assaults even after several years have passed, as we know new technology or new evidence can be brought forward to further an investigation. In this case, it was a successful DNA match that allowed our officers to positively identify a suspect and subsequently lay charges. I want to thank the many officers and areas within the Service who contributed to this investigation since 2019.”
Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org, or through the P3 Tips app.