A 62-year-old man in Texas, David Roy Mundt, has been sentenced to two life sentences after DNA evidence linked him to two child sexual assault cases from nearly four decades ago.
The cases, which happened in Arizona in 1986 and Texas in 1992, had remained unsolved for years until a recent breakthrough in 2025.
This marks another major victory for law enforcement in using modern DNA technology to solve cold cases and bring justice to victims and their families.
Who Was Responsible?
David Roy Mundt was identified as the main suspect after the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) submitted DNA samples from both old cases to the crime lab.
The tests originally brought up two possible matches — Mundt and his brother. But further investigation ruled out the brother, confirming that Mundt was the man responsible.
With this confirmation, he was charged with two counts of child sexual assault, one from each case.
1986 Arizona Case: Child Abduction and Assault
The first case dates back to July 6, 1986, in Phoenix, Arizona. Police responded to a burglary call at a family home. When officers arrived, they found that not only were items stolen — a young girl had gone missing from her bedroom.
Thankfully, neighbors found the toddler and brought her back home. But soon after, it was discovered that the child had been sexually assaulted.
Despite efforts, the suspect could not be identified at that time, and the case remained unsolved for nearly 40 years.
1992 Texas Case: Another Child Targeted
In October 1992, police in Henderson, Texas, received another disturbing call. A family reported that someone broke into their home and kidnapped their 7-year-old daughter.
The child was later found in the backyard after being sexually assaulted. DNA was collected from the crime scene, but at that time, there was no match in the system.
DNA Breakthrough in 2025
In April 2025, authorities decided to re-test the old DNA samples using improved technology. This time, the results were clear — both cases were linked to David Roy Mundt.
With this solid evidence, Mundt was convicted on both counts of child sexual assault.
The Court’s Decision
Following his conviction, the court sentenced David Roy Mundt to two life sentences, which he will serve one after the other (consecutively). This ensures that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, without the chance of early release.