A Loganville man has been convicted for a double homicide and sexual assault that occurred nearly 35 years ago, following a cold case investigation using DNA evidence. Kenneth Perry, 56, was found guilty by a jury on multiple charges including two counts of malice murder and rape in connection with the deaths of Pamela Sumpter and her brother John Sumpter on July 15, 1990.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction, highlighting the work of the DA’s Cold Case team. "More than three decades after the crime," she stated, "the District Attorney’s Cold Case team identified Defendant Perry through investigative work funded by the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant."
The initial incident took place at an apartment complex in Stone Mountain where police found Pamela Sumpter injured after being raped and stabbed. She had managed to seek help from a neighbor after discovering cut phone lines in her unit. Her brother John was found deceased in their apartment.
Pamela Sumpter provided police with a description of her attacker before succumbing to her injuries weeks later. The case went unsolved until recent advancements in DNA technology allowed investigators to revisit the evidence.
The breakthrough came when DNA from Ms. Sumpter's rape kit matched an unprosecuted sexual assault case from Detroit, Michigan in 1992. This led investigators to Kenneth Perry, who was identified as a suspect in both cases.
In preparation for applying for federal funding aimed at prosecuting cold cases using DNA evidence, DeKalb County officials audited unsolved homicides and selected this case due to its potential for resolution through DNA analysis.
With assistance from various agencies including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and private lab Othram, genealogical testing confirmed connections between Perry's family network and the crime scene evidence. Further confirmation came when a direct sample collected upon his arrest matched the original DNA profile.
Perry is scheduled for sentencing on March 18, 2025. The trial was overseen by DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Shondeana C. Morris and prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Shannon Hodder and Agatha Romanowski.
Detective Bright of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation before retiring. The successful prosecution underscores advances in forensic science that continue to solve long-standing criminal cases.