Serial rapist convicted in unsolved cases in Charlotte

Prosecutors say a serial rapist was convicted this week in three Charlotte cases dating back to the early 1990s.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office announced that LJ Bertha was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping.

According to prosecutors, three survivors testified in a recent trial that began May 20. Bertha, 64, was found guilty of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, two counts of kidnapping, attempted second-degree sexual offense and common robbery.

The first case occurred on October 12, 1993, when Bertha kicked out the driver’s side window of a car parked at a shopping center on Freedom Drive. Bertha forced the victim to pull over, drove her into a dead-end street, and then raped her.

The second case occurred on July 30, 1994, while the victim was walking on Beatties Ford Road. Prosecutors said Bertha forced her into a dead end street and raped her at knifepoint. The third victim was raped in 1996, and Bertha was sentenced to 20 years in prison for that crime in 1997.

The prosecution said prosecutors linked Bertha to the cases through DNA testing.

(WATCH: CMPD identifies ‘Myers Park rapist’ accused of molesting teens in 1990s)