By Staff
On Sunday, May 11, 2003, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Dowagiac Police Department responded to a reported home invasion at a residence on the southwest side of the city.
When officers arrived they met with a female who advised that she was asleep in her second-story bedroom when she was awakened by the light being turned on.
As she looked around the room she observed a black male standing next to her bed, advising her he intended to have sexual intercourse with her.
She also observed that the suspect was displaying a handgun.
The victim indicated she was able to reposition herself on her bed, at which time she was able to kick the suspect, knocking him back away from the bed.
She immediately got off her bed and a struggle ensued, at which time the victim was able to bite the suspect's hand, as well as strike him in the head with a small table lamp.
The victim indicated that she struggled with the suspect for a few moments before she was able to escape from her residence and hide in her vehicle, which was parked next to the residence.
A short time later the suspect left the residence.
As officers were processing the scene they were able to locate droplets of blood on the bedroom sheet.
The sample was taken as evidence and submitted to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab DNA Unit for testing.
In July of 2003, the department received notice that the state crime lab was successful in obtaining a DNA profile from the blood samples taken off the bed sheets.
In checking with the database the profile indicated that the DNA was from an unknown male donor.
Approximately 30 days later the department received notification from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab DNA Unit that they had a match on the blood sample submitted from the residence of the Dowagiac victim with that of Ramon Caldwell Jr., 315 N. Lowe St.
Caldwell's DNA sample had been submitted as a result of a domestic assault a month earlier.
When officers attempted to locate Caldwell in the Dowagiac area, police found that he was incarcerated in Memphis, Tenn., on a sexual assault charge. Dowagiac Police Department sent an investigator to Memphis and obtained another blood sample from Caldwell and submitted it to the DNA lab to be compared with that from the sheet taken from the residence.
The DNA profile once again indicated that the blood/DNA from Caldwell was the same as that found on the sheets at the victim's residence.
A prosecution request was submitted to the Cass County Prosecutor's Office and Prosecutor Victor Fitz issued a three-count warrant for Ramon Caldwell for assault with intent to murder, home invasion - first-degree, and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.
The Cass County Prosecutor's Office is in the process of seeking a governor's extradition to bring Caldwell, who was born Jan. 2, 1983, back to the state of Michigan to be charged and tried per the offense that he allegedly committed.
Had not been for the victim's bravery in resisting her attacker and the officers obtaining blood samples at the scene, as well as DNA comparisons, there is a strong likelihood that the assault may have never been solved, police said today.