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Man wanted in 1981 rape cold case involving 14-year-old girl arrested by U.S. Marshals in Puerto Rico

US Marshal generic
Posted at 10:20 AM, Sep 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-14 12:57:14-04

CLEVELAND — A suspect in a 1981 rape cold case who has been on the run since the early 80s after he allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in Cleveland was arrested in Puerto Rico on September 9, according to the United States Marshals Service.

Julio Rentas, 67, was arrested in the city of Juna Diaz, located approximately 65 miles southwest of San Juan.

On Jan. 4, 1981, Rentas allegedly sneaked inside the bedroom of a Cleveland home and raped a 14-year-old girl. A little over two weeks after the incident, a city-wide bolo (be on the lookout) was issued for Rentas, who was arrested and released with a court date set for March 25, 1981.

It was then that Rentas went on the run after he failed to appear for his scheduled court date.

The cold case unit of the United States Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in Cleveland had recently adopted the case and identified several associates of Rentas in the greater New York City area and in Daytona, Fla.

Investigators discovered that Rentas had been hiding in Puerto Rico since the early 2000s.

The U.S. Marshals Puerto Rico Task Force set up surveillance on Rentas and arrested him without incident, ending his 40-year run.

“No matter how far fugitives flee and no matter how long they think they can hide, the United States Marshals Service will never give up on looking for them and we will always bring justice to the victims of these horrendous crimes.” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott in a statement. “I am very proud of our unit and of all of our partners within our city. We will continue to serve justice within Cleveland as one unit and for all of our United States.”

Rentas is scheduled to appear before a judge on Sept. 17 for an identity and extradition hearing.