Arrest made in 25-year-old Selma rape and kidnapping cold case, police say

SELMA, N.C. (WNCN) — The suspect in a quarter-century-old cold case in Selma has been arrested in Detroit.

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In August of 2001, the Selma Police Department said it began investigating a rape and kidnapping that happened at Brotherhood Market in the 300 block of South Pollock Street. However, the case eventually ran cold.

Twenty-five years later, in January of this year, Selma police said it was notified of a DNA match from the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, out of Dearborn, Michigan. Investigators then reopened the case.

“For nearly twenty-five years, this case remained unanswered, and for nearly twenty-five years, a victim and her loved ones lived without the closure they deserved,” Selma Police Chief Justin R. Vause said. “While time may pass, our responsibility to seek justice does not. When investigators received the DNA match that reopened this case, they were faced with the challenge of reconstructing an investigation that began almost a quarter of a century ago. They reviewed aging reports, tracked down information that many believed had been lost to time, and refused to let this case be forgotten.”

The DNA put into the CODIS was collected during an unrelated investigation in Michigan and matched DNA collected in a rape kit from the crime in Selma, according to investigators.

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Using that DNA in combination with older reports and tracking down new information, Selma police identified Jaman Mohamed Al-Jasi, now 71-years-old, of Detroit, as the suspect. Al-Jasi was arrested in March of 2026 and was extradited from Michigan back to North Carolina on Sunday. Police said his return to NC was delayed for so long due to “legal proceedings” in Michigan that needed to be addressed.

“I could not be more proud of the investigators who dedicated themselves to this effort. Their perseverance, professionalism, and commitment to the pursuit of justice made this arrest possible. While no arrest can undo the trauma suffered by the victim, it is our hope that this development provides a measure of justice and closure. I am also deeply grateful to every agency and individual who assisted in this investigation, especially our law enforcement partners and the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office, whose support was invaluable throughout this process,” Vause said.

Al-Jasi has been charged with first-degree forcible rape, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual offense, according to police. He is being held in the Johnston County Jail with no bond.

In a statement about the case on Facebook Monday night, the department wrote, “The Selma Police Department thanks the agencies and personnel who assisted with this investigation and extradition. This case reflects the department’s continued commitment to pursuing justice for victims.”

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