Suspect in 1998 rape of Waterford woman arrested

A prime suspect in the 1998 violent rape of a Waterford resident has been extradited from Florida and charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and one count of home invasion.

Robert Ernest Tackett was arraigned before Judge Richard Kuhn, Jr. in 51st District Court on Wednesday, June 15. Tackett pleaded not guilty. His bond was set at $1 million cash or surety. His pre-exam conference was expected to be held yesterday, Tuesday, June 21, after press time.

Tackett’s charges stem from the July 28, 1998 rape of a then-25-year-old female resident of the 1300 block of Oklahoma Street. The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m.

Tackett allegedly broke into the home and assaulted the victim at knifepoint, threatening to slit her throat if she didn’t comply with his demands.

DNA evidence recovered at the crime scene was entered into the computer system that stores DNA profiles created by federal, state, and local crime laboratories in the United States.

In late 2009, the Waterford Police Department received notice of a possible suspect match to the crime scene DNA. Tackett, formerly from the Pontiac area, was serving a sentence at the Cross City Correctional Institution in Cross City, Fla.

Detectives then traveled to Florida, interviewed Tackett, and obtained a DNA sample from him under court order. The DNA sample confirmed the suspect match, according to police.

Law enforcement obtained a three-count warrant from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office charging Tackett with two counts of CSC and one count of home invasion.