CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

Minnesota Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years After 2013 Rape Solved by 2024 DNA Match

The Hennepin County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative retested backlogged kits and linked Mohamud Bulle to a 2013 rape after a 2024 DNA profile matched an untested kit from the attack on Melissa Zimmerman. Bulle was sentenced on Nov. 12 to 237 months — nearly 20 years — in prison. Zimmerman disputed earlier records that indicated she did not wish to pursue charges, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty apologized at the hearing. The case underscores the value of retesting old kits and the consequences of delayed forensic work.

04:59 AM, 11/25/2025Society
Minnesota Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years After 2013 Rape Solved by 2024 DNA Match

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 237 months in prison — nearly 20 years — after DNA collected in a 2024 investigation matched biological evidence from a 2013 sexual assault.

Court records show the Hennepin County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative retested previously unprocessed kits and linked Mohamud Bulle to the October 2013 attack on Melissa Zimmerman. Zimmerman had been separated from friends after a night out when she was assaulted; a passerby found her minutes later and called 911.

Following the assault, Zimmerman underwent a sexual-assault exam and an evidence kit was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The kit remained untested for years until 2024, when investigators gathered Bulle’s DNA during a probe into an attempted murder and assault. That profile matched the 2013 kit, leading to charges and the recent sentencing.

Sentencing and reaction

Bulle received his sentence on Wednesday, Nov. 12, totaling 237 months behind bars for the attack. At the hearing, Zimmerman pushed back against earlier records that noted she did not want to pursue the case; court documents indicate she disputed that characterization.

“I wanted to give up a lot,” Zimmerman said at the Nov. 12 hearing. “But if I wouldn’t have done it that day, I wouldn’t have been able to send a horrible, horrible person to jail finally.”

Zimmerman’s husband also addressed the court, asking: “When do the victims get to decide whether someone is prosecuted for a crime that was obvious?” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty apologized to Zimmerman at the hearing, stating, “I am so sorry. You deserve to have your cases prioritized and taken seriously.”

Why this case matters

The conviction highlights the impact of retesting backlogged sexual-assault kits: forensic evidence collected years earlier can still produce matches that lead to accountability. The case underscores ongoing concerns about delayed testing and the importance of initiatives that clear backlogs and revisit unprocessed evidence.

Similar Articles

Trending