Sentencing handed down after DNA match cracks 2007 cold case

NEXT. WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. THIS BURNING PILE OF DEBRIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACT. I’M REY LLERENA IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY AS THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS. ANOTHER CLEAR COLD NIGHT AHEAD. I’M TRACKING SOME RAIN, FOLLOWED BY MUCH COLDER AIR NEXT WEEK AND A CHANCE FOR WINTRY WEATHER. BECAUSE WE DO STRUGGLE. BUT GOD’S LIKE ALWAYS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. NOT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS FREE, EVEN FOR THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS. NEW ON WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX. A TEEN WITH A BIG DREAM AND AN EVEN BIGGER OBSTACLE. A BURNING HURRICANE HELENE DEBRIS PILE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACT, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. FIREFIGHTERS ARE LETTING THE FIRE BURN ITSELF OUT AND THE CONTRACTOR WHO MANAGES THE PILE SAYS THIS ONLY DELAYS RECOVERING FROM THE STORM. REY LLERENA REPORTS. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THERE IS MORE THAN 30,000YD OF DEBRIS, SUCH AS TREE TRUNKS, BURNING IN THIS PILE JUST OUTSIDE OF WEAVERVILLE. THE NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE IS LOOKING TO SEE IF FOUL PLAY MAY HAVE SPARKED IT. SKY4, WITH AN EXCLUSIVE OVERHEAD LOOK AT THE BILLOWING SMOKE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY WERE CALLED AT AROUND 440 IN THE MORNING AND OPTED TO MONITOR AND CONTAIN THE FLAMES, RATHER THAN EXTINGUISH THEM DUE TO THE SMOKE. THE PILE IS MANAGED BY GREER BASED SOUTHERN DISASTER RECOVERY, WHO MANAGES MORE THAN 80 PILES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THEY SAY THE SITE WAS SECURE FROM VEHICLES, BUT SOMEONE COULD HAVE WALKED UP TO THE PILE. PROJECT MANAGER ROGER DALE SAYS THE PILE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE BURNED, BUT THIS DOES NOT HELP WHEN YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, YOU DON’T WANT A LANDFILL FIRE? BY NO MEANS. SO LANDFILLS ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU ARE NOT ALLOW YOU TO CARRY STUFF IN FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE’S NO EMBERS IN THERE THAT COULD REIGNITE. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THERE IS NO THREAT OF THE FLAMES SPREADING TO ANY NEARBY COMMUNITIES. FIREFIGHTERS SAY IT MAY TAKE DAYS FOR THE FLAMES TO BURN THEMSELVES OUT. THEY SAY THEY WILL BE MONITORING ANY CHANGES IN THE WIND. REPORTING IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. REY LLERENA WF NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT, LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK NOW FROM OUR LAKE HARTWELL SKYCAM. THAT IS JUST GORGEOUS. BUT IT’S IT’S GOING TO GET PRETTY COLD. NIGEL. YES, VERY, VERY COLD. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS JUSTUS IS HERE. AND, CHRIS, HOW’S OUR EVENING SHAPING UP? YEAH, IT’S GOING TO BE COLD TONIGHT IN THE 20S, BUT RIGHT NOW WE’RE ON DOWN TO THE 30S AND THE LOW 40S IN THE UPSTATE. WE HAVE VERY DRY AIR IN PLACE. SO THAT 50 DEGREE MARK WE REACHED IN MANY LOCATIONS TONIGHT. IT’S ON THE WAY DOWN. WE’VE GOT CLEAR SKIES HERE AT HOME. BEAUTIFUL OUT. I MEAN, THAT SUNSET JUST HAS QUITE THE HUE TO THE SKY TONIGHT BECAUSE OF HOW CLEAR AND DRY IT IS. 43 IN SPARTANBURG. IT’S 46 IN GREENVILLE AND 48 IN ANDERSON. 12 HOUR FORECAST LOOKS LIKE THIS. WE GOT 40S TURNING INTO 30S TURNING INTO 20S, ALL WITH CLEAR SKIES. BUT THEN LOOKING AHEAD PAST THAT WEEKEND RAIN, WE’VE GOT EXTREME COLD AHEAD. I’VE GOT A LOW OF FIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS NEXT WEEK. I’VE GOT A LOW OF 13 IN THE UPSTATE. VERY COLD WEATHER. THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT YOUR PIPES, YOUR PETS, YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR NEIGHBORS. RIGHT. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, THAT COLD BLAST IS IN PLACE. AND YES, IT IS POSSIBLE WITH A BIG ASTERISK POSSIBLE, THAT THERE COULD BE SOME WINTRY WEATHER TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. I’M GOT NEW MODEL DATA THAT JUST FINISHED PILING IN, AND IT DOES STILL SHOW THE CHANCE FOR SNOW DURING THAT WEDNESDAY TIME FRAME. I’LL SHOW YOU ALL THE POSSIBILITIES IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. CHRIS. THANK YOU. THE SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALONG WITH OTHER STATE LEADERS, SPOKE IN COLUMBIA TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE CALLING THE STUDENT PILOT PRIVACY ACT. GABRIELLE KOMOROWSKI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT. GABY. WELL, NIGEL AND SYDNEY, THE PROPOSED BILL WOULD REQUIRE STUDENTS TO USE THE RESTROOM OF THE GENDER THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH. THE LEGISLATION IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT AS A CONDITION, AND IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY. ATTORNEY GENERAL ALAN WILSON, ALONG WITH OTHER LAWMAKERS, SAY THEY ARE HOPING TO MAKE THE STUDENT PRIVACY ACT LAW THIS SESSION. PARENTS ARE COUNTING ON LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO PASS LAWS, AND THOSE OF US IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO DEFEND THOSE LAWS AND EXECUTE THOSE LAWS THAT PUT THE PUT THE PROTECTIONS AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AT THE FOREFRONT. AND THAT’S WHAT THIS IS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS NOT PARTIZANSHIP. THIS IS NOT ABOUT DISCRIMINATION. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND A BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY ISSUE. AND TODAY WE SPOKE WITH CHASE GLENN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE. HE SAYS THIS BILL COULD PUT CHILDREN AT RISK. THEY MAY BE JUST GOING TO SCHOOL AND LIVING THEIR LIVES, AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY’RE TRANS. SO NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU’RE CREATING A LAW AND A RULE THAT’S GOING TO SEPARATE THEM OUT. IT’S GOING TO CALL ATTENTION TO THEM, AND WE WILL HAVE MORE FOR YOU. ON THE STUDENT PRIVACY ACT COMING UP TONIGHT ON WYFF NEWS FOUR AT 11. NIGEL. GABY. THANK YOU. IN LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 56 SAYS DURING A ROUTINE SCREENING, A LOADED GUN WAS FOUND IN A STUDENT’S CAR. IT HAPPENED AT CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL JUST AFTER 10:00 THIS MORNING. POLICE SAY IN ADDITION TO THE GUN, MARIJUANA WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE STUDENT’S CAR. INVESTIGATORS SAID THEY LATER CONFIRMED THE GUN WAS REPORTED STOLEN OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE STUDENT WAS IDENTIFIED AS 18 YEAR OLD JALEN SANDS. HE IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES. OFFICIALS SAY THE WEAPON WAS NEVER INSIDE THE BUILDING AND THERE WAS NO DIRECT THREAT TO STUDENTS. THE GREENVILLE COUNTY CLERK OF COURT IS LOOKING TO RESOLVE JURY PARTICIPATION CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTY. EARLIER THIS WEEK, A HIGH PROFILE MURDER TRIAL HAD TO BE POSTPONED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH JURORS SHOWED UP. THE CLERK’S OFFICE IS LAUNCHING A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF JURY DUTY AND EDUCATING CITIZENS ON HOW TO AVOID JURY SCAMS. TO VERIFY A JURY SUMMONS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CONTACT THE CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE. GREENVILLE POLICE IS RESPONDING TO THE STATE’S RECENT REPORT THAT SHOWS GREENVILLE COUNTY HAD THE MOST HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS IN 2024. GREENVILLE POLICE SAY THEY’VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE A NETWORK OF RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS. BASED ON THE DATA, YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES REPORTED. WE’RE TOLD ONE WAY TO SPOT A VICTIM IS A SUDDEN DROP IN GRADES. MAYBE THIS CHILD WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND NOW THEY’RE WITHDRAWN. AND OBVIOUSLY SIGNS OF ABUSE, SIGNS OF BEING ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED. TEACHERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE VICTIM WILL KNOW THESE SIGNS WHEN THEY SEE THEM, BECAUSE SOMETHING JUST WON’T LOOK RIGHT. SOUTH CAROLINA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE HIGH NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING INTO THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE. NEW DATA IS OUT TONIGHT REGARDING INFLUENZA IN SOUTH CAROLINA. ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE STATE REPORTED WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY FROM JANUARY 5TH TO JANUARY 11TH. MORE THAN 3200 LAB CONFIRMED TESTS WERE REPORTED, AND 445 HOSPITALIZATIONS, AS WELL AS NINE DEATHS. IT COMES AS BOTH PRISMA HEALTH AND BON SECOURS SAINT FRANCIS ARE NOW RESTRICTING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 FROM VISITING HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS DUE TO THE RISE IN RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES. TURNING TO SPORTS. CLEMSON’S NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ON CAMPUS TODAY. SPORTS DIRECTOR MARC WHITEMAN WAS THERE AS WELL THIS AFTERNOON, AND HE HAS THE LATEST ON THE TIGERS NEWEST ASSISTANT. NIGEL AND SYDNEY. TOM ALLEN SIGNING A SIX YEAR SIX. EXCUSE ME, A THREE YEAR, $6 MILLION DEAL AS CLEMSON’S DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, MAKING THE 54 YEAR OLD THE HIGHEST PAID MEMBER OF DABO SWINNEY STAFF AND ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID ASSISTANTS IN THE NATION. THE INDIANA NATIVE AND FORMER INDIANA HEAD COACH SPENT A SINGLE SEASON AS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT PENN STATE, WHERE THE NITTANY LIONS FINISHED TOP TEN IN SEVERAL KEY CATEGORIES AND REACHED THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL. ALLEN, SAYING HE WASN’T LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB UNTIL DABO SWINNEY AND CLEMSON CAME KNOCKING, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CLOSER THAN EVER TO HIS FAMILY. WITH TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE CAROLINAS AND A SECOND GRANDCHILD ON THE WAY, WAS JUST TOO GOOD TO PASS UP. OUR GIRLS, THEY CRIED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS TAKING THIS JOB AND BECAUSE WE’RE CLOSE, YOU KNOW, SO THOSE KIND OF THINGS, YOU JUST CAN’T REPLACE THEM. AND LIFE IS SHORT AND I DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. I’M 54 YEARS OLD. I STILL THINK I’M PRETTY YOUNG, BUT I’M, YOU KNOW, I’M NOT, YOU KNOW, AND SO BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST I VALUE THOSE THINGS. AND WHEN YOU VALUE THOSE THINGS, THEY, THEY HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS AS THE RASPY VOICE. LIKE ANOTHER RECENT CLEMSON DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, ALLEN, ADDING THAT CULTURE THAT DABO SWINNEY HAS BUILT IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COACHING PROFESSION. THE RIGHT FIT, AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR TOM ALLEN. WE’RE HEARING FROM DABO SWINNEY ON WHAT ALLEN WILL BE BRINGING TO CLEMSON. COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES IN SPORTS. NIGEL. ALL RIGHT, MARK, THANK YOU. SOUTH CAROLINA CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH BMW MANUFACTURING. TODAY. THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE FORMALLY RECOGNIZED BMW WITH RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS IN BOTH CHAMBERS. IT’S THE FIRST TIME THE BMW GROUP CHAIRMAN WAS IN THE GALLERY FOR SUCH A RECOGNITION. OLIVER ZIPSE, ACCEPTED THE APPLAUSE OF THE LAWMAKERS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE GOVERNOR. HENRY MCMASTER THEN RECOGNIZED HIM WITH THE SANDLAPPER AWARD, AND WE HAD NO IDEA THAT 30 YEARS LATER, ALL OUR X MODELS, WHICH ARE HUGE WORLDWIDE SUCCESS, ARE BEING BUILT HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, CHAIRMAN. THE SANDLAPPER AWARD EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE BY PEOP

Sentencing handed down after DNA match cracks 2007 sexual assault cold case

Updated: 10:26 PM EST Jan 15, 2025

A sexual assault case at a college went unsolved for many years until officers received a DNA hit, finally leading to an arrest in September 2024. Now, the suspect has been sentenced to prison.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)In January 2007, a man forcibly entered a victim’s off-campus apartment that was associated with Fayetteville State University and sexually assaulted them, officials said.Officers said although the case went unsolved and was considered cold for many years, it was recently reopened after the Fayetteville Police Department received a Combined DNA Index System hit notification. The notification revealed a strong match in DNA between the victim’s clothing and 39-year-old Nicholas Antonio Raye of Leland, North Carolina.According to law enforcement, with the help of the Fayetteville State University Police Department, the victim and the Northwest Police Department, investigators were able to follow up on the lead and charge Raye.Raye was charged with two counts of second-degree rape, second-degree sexual offense, first-degree kidnapping, and breaking and entering.Before new charges were presented, Raye had already been serving time at the Craven Correctional Institute for charges unrelated to the 2007 case since Aug. 9, 2023. These charges are for second-degree forcible rape and two counts of second-degree forcible offense that occurred in the town of Northwest.On Sept. 11, 2024, Raye was brought before the court for his first appearance. He was held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond.On Jan 14, 2025, Raye pleaded guilty to all charges from the 2007 cold case. He was sentenced to a minimum of 93 months (7.75 years) in prison with a maximum of 172 months (14.3 years).Officials said if you have been, or are, a victim of sexual assault, victim advocates from the Phoenix Center work with detectives to ensure victims receive appropriate care and access to resources. The Phoenix Center can be reached at 910-485-7273.

A sexual assault case at a college went unsolved for many years until officers received a DNA hit, finally leading to an arrest in September 2024. Now, the suspect has been sentenced to prison.

(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)

In January 2007, a man forcibly entered a victim’s off-campus apartment that was associated with Fayetteville State University and sexually assaulted them, officials said.

Officers said although the case went unsolved and was considered cold for many years, it was recently reopened after the Fayetteville Police Department received a Combined DNA Index System hit notification. The notification revealed a strong match in DNA between the victim’s clothing and 39-year-old Nicholas Antonio Raye of Leland, North Carolina.

Fayetteville Police Department

According to law enforcement, with the help of the Fayetteville State University Police Department, the victim and the Northwest Police Department, investigators were able to follow up on the lead and charge Raye.

Raye was charged with two counts of second-degree rape, second-degree sexual offense, first-degree kidnapping, and breaking and entering.

Before new charges were presented, Raye had already been serving time at the Craven Correctional Institute for charges unrelated to the 2007 case since Aug. 9, 2023. These charges are for second-degree forcible rape and two counts of second-degree forcible offense that occurred in the town of Northwest.

On Sept. 11, 2024, Raye was brought before the court for his first appearance. He was held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond.

On Jan 14, 2025, Raye pleaded guilty to all charges from the 2007 cold case. He was sentenced to a minimum of 93 months (7.75 years) in prison with a maximum of 172 months (14.3 years).

Officials said if you have been, or are, a victim of sexual assault, victim advocates from the Phoenix Center work with detectives to ensure victims receive appropriate care and access to resources. The Phoenix Center can be reached at 910-485-7273.