Montgomery County Police have charged a Virginia man in connection with two sexual assaults that occurred in Montgomery County in the late 1980s and 1990, and investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police Major Crimes Division Cold Case Unit, an arrest warrant was issued on December 9, 2025, charging Carl Rice Jr. of Mitchells, Virginia, with two counts of first-degree rape and kidnapping, two counts of first-degree sex offense, three counts of first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree assault. The charges stem from two separate incidents.
The first occurred on June 24, 1988, when a female victim was leaving the Friendship Heights Metro station. Police say she was approached by an unknown Black male described at the time as approximately 18 to 19 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a chubby face and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. The suspect allegedly pulled the victim across the street, where she was sexually assaulted.
The second incident occurred on September 19, 1990. In that case, police say a female victim met a man who identified himself as “Kevin” and offered her a ride home. When the victim became uncomfortable and attempted to exit the vehicle, the suspect reportedly restrained her and refused to let her leave. He then drove to an area in Bethesda, where the victim was sexually assaulted.
In February 2025, detectives received a CODIS DNA match connected to evidence recovered from the 1988 assault. That match led investigators to identify Rice as the suspect. Because both incidents occurred near the District of Columbia border, Montgomery County detectives worked in partnership with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department Cold Case Sex Assault Unit during the investigation.
Police said Rice is currently serving a prison sentence in Virginia and has previously been arrested in other jurisdictions on charges related to rape and sexual assault.
Based on the information gathered and similarities in the cases, detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not yet reported assaults involving Rice. Anyone with information or who believes they may have been victimized is urged to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-8477.
