Man convicted of raping women in Homestead looking to prove innocence

HOMESTEAD, Pa. — A man convicted in 1989 of raping several women in Homestead is looking to prove his innocence, Channel 11 News has learned. %

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In 1987, six women between the ages of 64 and 85 were bound, raped and robbed in their homes in the middle of the night.

“Why would you do that to older ladies who couldn't defend themselves?” Homestead Mayor Betty Esper, who was president of council at the time, asked.

Based on fingerprints and physical evidence from the crime scenes, Homestead police arrested and charged Dennis Foy in the rapes and robberies of four of the women. Foy, an unemployed janitor, was later convicted and sentenced to 100 to 200 years in prison.

Foy has maintained his innocence, and he will petition the court Friday for new DNA tests in an attempt to prove it.

“It's kind of funny they found a bag in Homestead 29 years later…it's very suspicious” said Foy’s brother, Julius.

Foy was convicted on fingerprint evidence, his confession and he was caught trying to pawn a shotgun stolen from one of the victims.

Foy’s lawyer tried to have additional DNA evidence testing, but Allegheny County routinely destroys case evidence after 20 years. Officials need to find out if any original evidence is left.

“It's not unusual. Where we have cases, it's been represented that physical evidence has been destroyed or not available and under a diligent search, it's recovered,” said Marissa Bluestine, Foy’s lawyer.

The judge has ordered for the vials and envelopes contained in the bag to be sent for independent testing.

Allegheny County police who originally worked the case 29 years ago told Channel that they caught the right man.

“I was on the case. There was at least three cases that had fingerprints of him being in the elderly peoples’ residences,” said James Morton, Allegheny County police.

Cox Media Group