Investigators in Georgia are on the lookout for possible victims of a convicted sex offender from Florida after DNA evidence connected him to three sexual assault cases, where women were allegedly lured through job ads on Craigslist.
Julius Hunter, who is 42 years old, has been charged with rape, aggravated sodomy, and kidnapping in Georgia related to a 2016 incident involving a 19-year-old at an apartment complex in Clarkston. A grand jury in DeKalb County indicted him on August 11.
Prior to his arrest in Georgia, Hunter had accepted a plea deal in a different case of sexual battery involving his ex-girlfriend in Florida back in 2021. Now, investigators suspect there may be more victims and are looking into a broader pattern of sexual assaults.
Rogers, an investigator for the DeKalb County District Attorney’s office, mentioned it’s possible Hunter may have also preyed on women in New Jersey, where he grew up. Hunter’s DNA has matched evidence from two more sexual assault cases in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties that happened in 2016 and 2017, although he hasn’t been charged for those incidents yet. Investigators are trying to reconnect with the two women involved.
$300 babysitting job
In the 2016 case, the young woman believed she was going to a babysitting job that paid $300 overnight. Following Hunter’s arrangement for a ride-share, she arrived at an apartment on Jolly Avenue and found no children present—just Hunter and another man. Allegedly, when she tried to leave, Hunter prevented her from doing so and assaulted her over several hours before letting her go the next day.
The victim managed to escape in a cab and requested the driver to call 911. She later met with police at a gas station and went to the hospital for an examination.
Investigators have not yet identified the other man present in the apartment and are actively seeking information about him, although he hasn’t been charged either.
Florida arrest leads to DNA match
For several years, the case in Clarkston lingered without resolution until a male DNA profile was created from the victim’s sexual assault kit. That profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) but didn’t match anyone until Hunter’s DNA was collected following his conviction in Florida. This led to a match with the DNA from the Clarkston case and the evidence from the attacks in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
Hunter was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on August 13, just two days after the indictment, and was extradited to Georgia on August 20.
While Hunter was on an 11-year probation sentence related to the Florida conviction, the charges in Georgia were brought against him. His attorney, Don Plummer from the Georgia Public Defender Council, chose not to comment on the situation.
Similar Craigslist ads
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office noted that the cases share similarities beyond the DNA evidence, particularly that Hunter used Craigslist to solicit women for positions involving babysitting, modeling, dancing, and massages.
Rogers indicated that the frequency and nature of these incidents suggest there could be even more victims out there. The Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Task Force is currently looking into these cases, and they encourage anyone who believes they may have been victimized to reach out to law enforcement. Importantly, contacting them doesn’t obligate a victim to pursue prosecution.
Rogers urged anyone who feels they might have been affected to call the tip line at 404-371-2444, emphasizing the importance of sharing their experiences to receive necessary support, regardless of their decision on prosecution.
