Police: DNA links man to sexual assault of child 25 years ago

BRIGANTINE - DNA evidence has led to an arrest in the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl 25 years ago.

Brian Lee Avis, 59, of Egg Harbor City, is accused of breaking into a home on East Evans Boulevard and assaulting the sleeping child on July 19, 1996, according to New Jersey State Police.

"When the victim woke up, the suspect fled the scene," said a State Police account.

It said a DNA profile produced from evidence on the girl's bed was entered into a national database in 2002, but there were no matches.

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A Brigantine police detective, Jack Glasser III, several months ago "identified this evidence as a case that could be solved using current DNA technology," said Rich Casamento, the department's chief.

State Police detectives and Brigantine police officers reopened the cold case in January 2021 and helped develop "a more robust DNA sample," the account said.

Detectives submitted the sample in July to a private laboratory "in an attempt to identify genetic relatives of the suspect."

It said Avis was identified as the suspect "through various investigative means."

Detectives executed a search warrant for Avis' DNA on Sept. 12, producing a positive match to the sample from the crime scene, the account said.

Avis was arrested the next day.

In announcing the arrest, Casamento also cited the "diligent" efforts of the original detectives on the case and of evidence custodians who maintained the DNA sample for 25 years.

Avis was being held at Atlantic County Jail on charges that include aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, sexual assault of a child under 13 years old and burglary.

The charges are only allegations and Avis has not been convicted in connection with the case.

Police noted the sexual assault occurred during a period of about 14 reported incidents involving a man engaging in voyeuristic behavior and the attempted sexual assault of two teenage girls in the Brigantine area.

Those cases remained unsolved.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Glasser at 609-266-7600, extension 276, of State Police Detective Sergeant First Class Joseph Itri at 833-4NJ-COLD. 

Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

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