MESA, AZ — Police arrested a Valley man on Tuesday who allegedly raped eight women and spent more than two decades on the loose.
Mesa police say DNA technology identified 57-year-old John Daly III, a recently retired Border Patrol Agent, as the suspect in the assaults.
Between July 1999 - October 2001, police investigated a series of sexual assaults that occurred in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Bisbee.
Police say the eight cases were connected by similar suspect behavior and three of the cases (Mesa, Gilbert, and Bisbee) were matched by DNA. No viable leads were developed at that time.
Officials say in February 2021, investigative efforts produced the name of Daly. Police say a history check showed that Daly lived near each of the sexual assaults at the time they occurred.
Officers from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Bisbee police, the FBI and Border Patrol officials worked together on these cases, making connections, conducting interviews, and collecting evidence.
Officials say DNA taken from a cup in the alleged Bisbee attack, linked Daly to two of the sexual assaults; one Mesa and one Gilbert case.
Police say on May 4, one of Daly's longtime friends from his law enforcement career helped set up a ruse to take Daly into custody in Sierra Vista.
Court documents indicated Daly was armed at the time of his arrest an tried to resist being taken into custody. During the search of Daly's home, authorities also found a stockpile of weapons.
Investigators also found a newspaper clipping from the Bisbee Observer regarding the alleged assault in Daly's home.
Daly was booked for charges related to three of the eight cases. Bisbee Police Department officials say they plan to submit charges for their case and police say the other four cases require additional investigative efforts prior to charging.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection-Arizona released the following statement on John Daly:
CBP does not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we cooperate fully with all criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our current or former personnel. It is important to note that CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. Given the pending investigation, all inquiries are being referred to the Mesa Police Department.
If you or someone you know may have additional information regarding Daly, please call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211.
