How Genetic Genealogy Helped Solve the Case of the 'Sorority Rapist' – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

They were shocking crimes: sisters from a student association in their fifties and sixties raped each other in their own home.

For years, the cases went unnoticed until new DNA technology breathed new life into the fight for justice.

Last week, a man known as the “Sorority Rapist” was sentenced to life in prison in a Collin County court.

Jeffrey Wheat's conviction came more than 20 years after his first known victim, who was not a fraternity member, and more than a decade after the three Delta Sigma Theta alumni were raped in their homes.

“I'm pretty sure we couldn't have solved it without our genetic genealogy,” said retired Plano Police Department CSI Unit Manager Rick Staub.

Genetic genealogy is the same technology used to catch the Golden State Killer.

According to Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis, it was first successfully used in Collin County to identify wheat.

“It took us several years and hours and hours of investigation,” said Plano Police Detective Daniel Bryeans.

Detective Bryeans was assigned to the case in 2018, when he started in Plano's cold case unit.

“We started by looking at all the evidence we had,” Detective Bryeans said.

The evidence consisted of folders of documents, videos and DNA left behind by the suspect at the crime scene. The DNA was entered into databases used by the public to trace ancestors.

“We would have to get matches from those family members and then go out and look on social media, law enforcement websites, etc., and try to trace families from there,” Detective Bryeans said.

Numerous DNA samples from possible relatives were tested, Staub said, but many yielded no matches.

“We've run into so many obstacles,” said Detective Bryeans.

But they did not give up.

“I think we had so many victims, and then we had the victims and the horrific crimes that they committed, we couldn't leave it at that,” Detective Bryeans said.

In 2021, truck driver Wheat was arrested in Arkansas after Detective Bryeans stated that Wheat's identity had been confirmed using DNA taken from his daughter and half-brother.

“We tried to interview him but he wouldn't talk to us,” Detective Bryeans said.

Wheat pleaded guilty last week in lawsuits filed in Collin, Dallas, Tarrant and Denton counties.

“It was very satisfying,” Staub said. “We would never have gotten through this case without the help of the entire department.”

When asked if he believes Wheat has more victims, Detective Bryeans replied, “Absolutely, without a doubt.”

Wheat was sentenced to life in prison for the cases in Tarrant and Collin counties, 30 years for the case in Dallas County and 20 years for the case in Denton County.