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Rape Suspect Arrested By Police In Drexel Hill

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – An elderly woman who was sexually assaulted in her home by an intruder back in September can rest a little bit easier.

On Thursday, police were able to make a CODIS match between DNA evidence collected and the DNA profile of convicted offender, Robert Ashley, of Pennsylvania.

Ashley, who was arrested in Drexel Hill on Friday, reportedly confessed to assaulting the victim and taking an undetermined amount of money from the victim's residence.

The original incident occurred around 12:10 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2011, when the 81-year-old female called and told police she had been asleep on the second floor in the bedroom of her house and was awakened by the suspect on top of her. The man physically and sexually assaulted her, but she was able to push him off, and he then fled the residence.

The victim also notified police that her bedroom had been ransacked.

Robert Ashley, 55, of S Divinity Street, has been charged with Rape, Robbery and related offenses. He had four prior arrests, one of which was for a sexual assault.

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