A man taken into custody in Jamaica has been extradited to Broward County to face charges for several sexual batteries in Margate dating back to the mid-1990s, authorities said.
Russell McLean, 65, was extradited Thursday and was being held in the Broward County Jail on 16 charges including sexual assault, burglary and kidnapping.
Margate Police said an investigation resumed after several sexual batteries and attempted batteries took place between June 1996 and November 1997, where the suspect broke into homes and threatened victims with a gun before assaulting them.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
In 2007, evidence in a burglary case led to the identification of McLean as a person of interest. During the investigation, McLean fled to Jamaica, officials said.
In 2018, DNA evidence was obtained and compared to rape kits taken from the incidents in the 1990s. It matched with McLean and an arrest warrant was issued in August 2020.
McLean was located in May 2022 while serving as a faculty member of a university and arrested with the assistance of U.S. Marshals.
Local
Investigators believe there may be more victims and ask anyone with information to contact Margate Police at 954-972-7111.
