DNA evidence from a sock has led to the arrest by county police of a suspect in a 2003 home invasion robbery in Silver Spring.
Officers with the Major Crimes Division arrested and charged Stacy Howard Moore, age 48, of the 3400 block of 55th Avenue in Hyattsville in connection with the incident, which occurred on January 22, 2003 in an apartment in the 9100 block of Piney Branch Road.
That night, officer responded at about 9:05 p.m. to a report of a home invasion robbery that had just occurred.
“Detectives determined that at approximately 6:00 p.m. on January 22, 2003, a 31-year-old male had approached the front door to his apartment when he was confronted by three suspects,” according to a department press release. “The suspects identified themselves as police officers and two of the suspects were armed with handguns. The suspects threatened the victim and forced themselves inside his apartment where his 28-year-old wife, seven-year-old son, and five-year-old daughter were located.”
The family was bound with duct tape; the husband was stabbed and had bleach poured on him. In addition, suspects heated a knife and pressed it to his neck, and also threatened to shoot the two children, police said.
At about 8:30 that night, the husband’s brother entered the apartment. He, too, was bound and had bleach poured on him.
The suspects stole property and fled. The family freed themselves and called 9-1-1.
While on scene for the investigation, detectives learned that the suspects used socks they found in the apartment to cover their hands. Detectives collected the sock and other evidence.
“On March 22, 2021, the Montgomery County Department of Police Crime Laboratory received notice from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) that a suspect’s DNA sample obtained from a sock one of the suspects wore on his hands matched the DNA profile for Moore,” the release said.
Police obtained a warrant on April 2 for Moore that charged him with first-degree burglary, the use of a handgun during the commission of a felony, three counts of armed robbery, five counts of first-degree assault, and five counts of false imprisonment. He was arrested April 22.
Detectives are still searching for the other two suspects. Anyone with information about the crime can call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5100.
MCPD photo