DNA Solves Two Austin Sexual Assault Cases More Than 25 Years Later, Man Sentenced to 15 Years

AUSTIN, Texas – DNA evidence preserved for more than two decades helped Austin police solve two sexual assault cases from 1999 and 2000, ultimately leading to the conviction of a man who has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Michael Lance Gamez was sentenced Aug. 3 by Judge Chantal Eldridge of the 331st District Court after pleading guilty to attempted aggravated sexual assault.

The first attack happened Sept. 9, 1999, at the Capital Metro Pavilion Park and Ride in the 12400 block of Research Boulevard.

A woman had arrived on a northbound Leander bus and was sitting on a bench around 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. when an unknown man approached her, according to the Austin Police Department.

As the woman got up and began walking toward a nearby convenience store, the man physically attacked her and attempted to sexually assault her. She screamed, causing the attacker to flee.

Austin police collected forensic evidence during the investigation, but the attacker was not identified.

Less than five months later, another woman was attacked.

Around noon Feb. 8, 2000, a woman was returning to her apartment in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard when a man approached and asked for assistance.

The woman allowed him inside her apartment, where police said he violently attacked and restrained her before attempting to sexually assault her.

She fought back, and the attacker fled.

Investigators collected forensic evidence from that scene as well.

On April 3, 2000, the Texas Department of Public Safety notified Austin police that DNA recovered from the two attacks matched the same unidentified man.

Investigators continued pursuing leads, but the man’s identity remained unknown for more than 23 years.

That changed in October 2023, when DPS notified APD that the DNA profile had been identified as belonging to Gamez.

Detectives William Costello and Grace Wolfsbane located Gamez in February 2024, interviewed him and obtained a warrant for a DNA sample.

The sample was submitted to the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory and compared with DNA evidence preserved from the two attacks.

On Oct. 30, 2024, the laboratory confirmed that Gamez was the source of the DNA recovered in both cases, according to APD.

Gamez was arrested Nov. 15, 2024, and charged in connection with both attacks. The charges included aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.

On May 20, 2026, Gamez pleaded guilty to one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault and requested that a judge determine his sentence.

Eldridge sentenced him Aug. 3 to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.