NYPD: Attempted rapist in Central Park with long history of sexual abuse caught through DNA evidence

The suspect who allegedly attempted to rape a sunbather in Central Park has a long history of sexual abuse, police reported Wednesday.

On July 2, Chief of Criminal Investigation Joseph Kenny announced that 43-year-old Jermaine Longmire allegedly attacked a 21-year-old woman while she was sunbathing in a secluded area of ​​Central Park on June 24. Kenny told reporters that police had used major resources to bring the pervert to justice – including forensic tests that linked Longmire to the crime through analysis of DNA evidence.

According to police, the suspect exposed himself and tackled the victim to the ground in the Great Hills section of the park (West Drive and West 104th Street) at around 1:30 p.m. on June 24. The sunbather was able to fight off the attacker and escape.

During the subsequent investigation, the police were able to locate a witness who had observed the suspect’s escape direction.

“Investigators were able to conduct a video recording to follow this individual to West 104th Street, where they were able to retrieve video from a business location that gave us a clear image of the offender’s face. This image was transmitted to our facial recognition system, which produced a match,” said Chief Kenny.

Although that clue wasn’t enough for cops to convict Longmire of the crime, Kenny said, detectives did find that there was a warrant out for his arrest for groping another woman’s butt in March of this year.

“He has been arrested eight times in New York City and has a long history of out-of-state arrests in Florida, Maryland and New Jersey,” Kenny said. “Further computer investigation revealed that he was also involved in two incidents of forcible touching that occurred on public transit in 2023. Once again, Longmire walked up behind unsuspecting women and forcibly grabbed them by their private parts.”

New York police were able to quickly track down Longmire and take him into custody for a number of other sexual assaults, but initially lacked sufficient evidence to charge him with the attack on the sunbather.

Then came the DNA evidence.

While Longmire was in custody, detectives from the Special Victims Division were able to link Longmire to the Central Park incident through genetic material found on the victim’s bikini bottoms.

On July 3, Longmire was charged with attempted rape and first-degree sexual abuse.

“As alleged, Jermaine Longmire attempted to rape a woman in Central Park last month while she was sunbathing. Our parks should be a place where New Yorkers can relax without fearing for their safety, and this alleged behavior will not be tolerated,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “Our Special Victims Division has the resources to both hold perpetrators accountable and support survivors in their recovery; please call us at 212-335-9373.”