Interstate 80 rapist

Interstate 80 rapist
Interstate 80 rapist
Capture status	Convicted
Wanted by	Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
Details
Victims	3 sexual assaults
State	California

The Interstate 80 rapist, also known as the Clover Leaf Rapist, is an American serial rapist who was active in Sacramento, California, between 2013 and 2014. In 2021, JD Wallace Simien (born 1980/81) was arrested after genetic genealogy connected him to the case. He was convicted in October 2024 and sentenced to 82 years to life in February 2025.

Crimes

While many have been convinced that other assaults took place by the same man, only three have been successfully linked by DNA:

September 9, 2013 at 4:20am
December 10, 2013 at 9:15pm
January 8, 2014 at 4:30am

Investigation

Suspects eliminated

Robert Hill - Despite Hill being a convicted serial rapist, detectives from the Sacramento Sheriff's Department ruled him out and announced that he was not connected to the series of rapes.
Kenneth Anderson - Victims of the I-80 Rapist were convinced, when shown Anderson, that he strongly resembled their attacker. However, Anderson gave DNA and he was cleared as a suspect in the rapes.

Arrest and conviction

The case became known as the Clover Leaf Rapist due to the attacks happening around the freeway entrances and exits that form a cloverleaf pattern. After it became a cold case, police used DNA from rape kits and clothing to find a match. As with the Golden State Killer, police used genetic genealogy to connect him to DNA samples. JD Simien was arrested in November 2021 on suspicion of serial rape. He lived in Sacramento County, where the attacks happened, with his family. He was convicted in October 2024 of forcible rape and oral rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, and assault. He was sentenced on 21 February 2025 to 82 years to life.

The case was presented at the California Association of Criminalists meeting in 2025 by TeriAnn Grimes of the DA's office.

References

↑ "Sacramento County Sheriff's Department - Cold Case Investigations - Sexual Assault". www.sacsheriff.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
1 2 "Arrest Made In Sacramento County 'Cloverleaf Rapist' Investigation". CBS Sacramento. November 5, 2021.
1 2 3 4 Padilla, Cecilio (February 25, 2025). "Sacramento County "Clover Leaf Rapist" handed 82 years to life in prison sentence". CBS News.
1 2 "I-80 Rapist Victim Convinced North Sacramento Subway Attacker Is Same Man". Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ "Media Release". The American River Current. January 10, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ "Series of rapes continues near campus". The American River Current. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ "Investigators Say Serial Rapist Could Be Behind Attack On Tuesday". Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ Shams, Sharokina (January 11, 2014). "Deputies: Serial rapist strikes again in Sacramento County". KCRA. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
↑ Doan, Claire (July 29, 2014). "Man, 20, accused in 3 Sacramento County rape cases". KCRA. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ "DNA reveals Subway sex assault suspect not linked to Interstate 80 rape series". The Sacramento Bee. March 31, 2014. ISSN 0890-5738. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
↑ "Sheriff's Dept: Man Accused Of Raping Co-Worker Not Behind Series Of I-80 Rapes". Retrieved October 30, 2017.
1 2 Robles, Sergio (November 8, 2024). "'Clover Leaf Rapist' convicted for attacks on three women in Northern California". KTXL Sacramento.
↑ "139th Annual Seminar, California Association of Criminalists, April 27-May 2, 2025, Folsom". California Association of Criminalists. 2025.

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[1] "Sacramento County Sheriff's Department - Cold Case Investigations - Sexual Assault". www.sacsheriff.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[CBSarrest-2] 1 2 "Arrest Made In Sacramento County 'Cloverleaf Rapist' Investigation". CBS Sacramento. November 5, 2021.

[CBS2025-3] 1 2 3 4 Padilla, Cecilio (February 25, 2025). "Sacramento County "Clover Leaf Rapist" handed 82 years to life in prison sentence". CBS News.

[:0-4] 1 2 "I-80 Rapist Victim Convinced North Sacramento Subway Attacker Is Same Man". Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[5] "Media Release". The American River Current. January 10, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[6] "Series of rapes continues near campus". The American River Current. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[7] "Investigators Say Serial Rapist Could Be Behind Attack On Tuesday". Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[8] Shams, Sharokina (January 11, 2014). "Deputies: Serial rapist strikes again in Sacramento County". KCRA. Retrieved May 9, 2018.

[9] Doan, Claire (July 29, 2014). "Man, 20, accused in 3 Sacramento County rape cases". KCRA. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[10] "DNA reveals Subway sex assault suspect not linked to Interstate 80 rape series". The Sacramento Bee. March 31, 2014. ISSN 0890-5738. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[11] "Sheriff's Dept: Man Accused Of Raping Co-Worker Not Behind Series Of I-80 Rapes". Retrieved October 30, 2017.

[KTXL2024-12] 1 2 Robles, Sergio (November 8, 2024). "'Clover Leaf Rapist' convicted for attacks on three women in Northern California". KTXL Sacramento.

[13] "139th Annual Seminar, California Association of Criminalists, April 27-May 2, 2025, Folsom". California Association of Criminalists. 2025.