Serial rapist who once lived in Ventura linked to decades-old sex assault cases

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- Ventura County officials announced a major breakthrough Thursday in a decades-long sexual assault investigation.

According to the district attorney's office, Sean Patrick McNulty has been connected to two home invasion rapes that happened in Ventura in the early '80s along with four additional home invasion rapes in Michigan and Ohio.

McNulty, who grew up in Ventura, died in Michigan in 1997. An investigative genealogist tied McNulty to the crimes through his DNA profile.

"In March 2024, the perpetrator DNA profile from the 1982 case was determined to match the perpetrator DNA profile from the 1983 case," read a statement released by the district attorney's office. "Additionally, the same perpetrator DNA profile matched that recovered from rapes occurring in 1994 in Okemos, Michigan, 1995 in Birmingham, Michigan, and 1997 in Columbus, Ohio."

A joint investigation was launched, which included working with the genealogist from the Columbus Police Department in Ohio.

"Team members located McNulty's headstone at a Ventura County cemetery but ultimately learned his body had been cremated and the location of his remains was unknown," read the DA office's statement.

Investigators tried to speak with McNulty's ex-wife to get a better understanding of his whereabouts throughout his life, but she refused to speak with them.

Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff released a statement saying he hopes Thursday's announcement brings a measure of closure to these cases.

Individuals who have information regarding any crimes committed by McNulty are encouraged to contact District Attorney Investigator Yumi Kirk at 805-477-1638 or at yumi.kirk@venturacounty.gov.